Near McGraw Tower on Ho Plaza is The Cornell Store, the one-stop shop to pick up textbooks, buy a new laptop, grab a coffee or purchase school-spirit apparel. Tourists, prospective and current students, alumni, faculty and family alike flock to the Cornell Store to purchase mementos of their time on the Hill.
The Sun spoke with student workers at the store to highlight their experiences working at the heart of campus.
Maream Adous ’26, Sales Associate
As guests visit Cornell for the first time, they may be welcomed to campus by Maream Adous ’26, a sales associate for The Cornell Store. Adous, who is a student in the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, also serves on the marketing team, leading social media promotions for the store.
When it comes to The Cornell Store, she explained that what she loved was, most notably, the people. As a sales associate, Adous is often the one customers interact with in passing, and she said that it is these interactions “with all generations of Cornell” that have been a highlight of her work.
“My favorite part about the job is both the people that I work with and the different people that I meet,” Adous said. “Working during parents’ weekend is one of my favorite times because I interact with prospective students, current students and parents who are all just happy to be here.”
When not working, Adous is a member of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship and a course assistant for AEM 2225: Financial Accounting for Dyson Majors.
Also an avid runner, Adous completed the Wizz Air Milano Marathon in Milan last year during her semester abroad — a full 26.2-mile course which begins at the Piazza Del Duomo, the heart of the city. Returning to Ithaca this year, Adous joked that she was excited to be back on campus.
“I kind of just missed touching grass here,” Adous said. “It's nice to have fresh air and just be surrounded by Ithaca’s nature.”
Maream Adous ’26 is a sales associate at the Cornell Store and can be found greeting guests. (Zeinab Faraj/Features Editor)
Dahntay Baugh ’26, Sales Associate
Dahntay Baugh ’26 began working at The Cornell Store just this year in a position behind the register. He is a senior studying information science and business in the College of Arts and Sciences.
In his free time, Baugh plays in various intramural sports leagues, including soccer, volleyball, bowling and flag football. He is also a member of Phi Gamma Nu, a professional business fraternity on campus.
Baugh explained that he finds working at The Cornell Store “a lot of fun” because he is able to work with other students with whom he gets along well. He also worked at The Cornell Store over the summer, where he interacted with a lot of students in the Pre-Collegiate Summer Scholars Program, touring families and high schoolers.
“Family and alumni and admitted students, … they would always ask questions about what I like about campus,” Baugh said. “‘Where should I go? And what do you think?’ I like that a lot … just talking to people and helping them out.”
Baugh shared that he was looking forward to completing a bucket list before graduating with his friends, including kayaking on Beebe Lake and having a midnight picnic on the Ag Quad.
Lasya Priya Vadlamani ’26, Hiring Supervisor
Cornell Store Hiring Supervisor and Onboarding Instructor Lasya Vadlmani ’26 wears many hats around the store. When found under the Hill, she may be reviewing applications, training new members as an onboarding instructor or stepping up as student manager.
Vadlamani discussed the diversity of applicants that The Cornell Store receives and approves.
“I review up to 150 applications sometimes,” Vadlamani said, “Some freshmen, but also a lot from the other grades, including seniors.” She added that “the diversity of workers at The Cornell Store makes it an unexpected place to find friends.”
Vadlamani explained that it is the people at the store who make it a great place for her.
“Most student workers bond and create a community, working together at the store,” Vadlamani said. “It's run by all these students, so it's a really good place to make friends and have a community.”
Outside of work, Vadlamani is enrolled in the College of Human Ecology. She is majoring in human development and minoring in law and society and performing and media arts. She is also a part of pre-law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta, as well as Planned Parenthood Generational Action, a student organization seeking to raise awareness around reproductive justice and sex education at Cornell.
Vadlamani is looking forward to graduating soon and enjoying what time she has left on campus.
“I am looking forward to the freedom of being anything and the excitement of uncertainty,” she said.
Lasya Priya Vadlamani '26 is the Cornell Store's hiring supervisor and onboarding instructor. (Zeinab Faraj/Sun Features Editor)
Jonathan McCormack is a sophomore in the Cornell College of Arts & Sciences. He is a staff writer for the news department and can be reached at jjm538@cornell.edu.
