Cornell legacy: Laura Gibson ’25
Laura Gibson ’25
Kyle Gibson ’88, father
Kent Gibson ’56, grandfather
Laura: I think the campus today is very inclusive and diverse.
My family history hasn’t had a big impact on my Cornell experience other than a scholarship [the $2,000 Legacy Award]. But a lot of people are interested in why we all went to the same school. I think it’s safe to say, at least for my dad and me, we liked the block plan. Now we can relate to each other over the structure of the block plan. I like to talk to my dad about the classes I take.
Kyle: The campus itself hasn’t changed a whole lot because the buildings are historic. When dad went there, he had mandatory and assigned seating in King Chapel in the mornings and was required to be there. I am not sure I set foot in King Chapel until graduation.
It was a fluke that Laura ended up there after visiting campus with one of her friends. I had never taken her to campus before. I also ended up at Cornell on a fluke after changing my mind and my dad called to see if they were still taking students. It turns out Laura and I were attracted to the same type of thing. Now she likes One Course At A Time, which I enjoyed.
We are two very different people. My interests were athletics and social groups, and she’d rather be reading in her room. Having gone there I know whatever her interests are, Cornell has them.
Kent: Laura’s just starting this year and really likes the block schedule. That’s definitely a big difference from my experience. Having Laura at Cornell gives us more to talk about when she’s here.
When I was a student women’s dorms were locked at 10 o’clock, no alcohol was allowed on campus, and it was frowned upon anywhere else also. But they’ve adjusted to the times, I guess, and we have to abide by that. Basically, it’s still a small college in a rural town in the Midwest, so it’s about as American as you can get.
Read about five other Cornell legacy families
