Senior Spotlight: Enoch Bernfield
Enoch has a particular interest in history and agriculture, and he brings that curiosity and dedication into every aspect of his work. In the classroom, Enoch is consistently engaged and ready to tackle any subject that comes his way. Never satisfied with taking the easy route, he demonstrates creativity and initiative by going beyond assigned materials to produce rich, insightful papers and projects that address real-world challenges.
One example of this is his agroforestry project, in which Enoch selected a section of campus affected by invasive plants. He conducted on-site assessments, communicated with those involved in managing the area, and developed a thoughtful plan grounded in best practices. His proposal also carefully considered feasibility, including time constraints, available resources, and site accessibility.
Enoch came to Sterling with some prior experience in crop production and management, and he quickly distinguished himself through his enthusiasm for working with plants, attention to detail, organizational skills, passion for learning, and reliability. These qualities contributed to a highly successful farm work experience.
Through his work program, Enoch has taken on a wide range of responsibilities, including field work; developing and implementing a full-year crop production plan for the CSA program and campus kitchen; work task planning; co-worker supervision; on-call duties; and helping to facilitate planning meetings. He has held a student leadership position for two years and also joined the Farm Crew for a summer internship in the gardens.
Among his many tasks, Enoch determined which crops—and in what quantities—would be ready for harvest each week, then harvested and prepared produce for timely distribution. These responsibilities required not only physical labor but also extensive organization, communication, and record-keeping to ensure the right vegetables reached the right place at the right time. He also helped supervise and direct a diverse crew of students, doing so with clear communication, mutual respect, and steady leadership—an approach rooted in the deep value he places on the people around him.
Above all, Enoch deeply values his teachers, his peers, and the broader Sterling community. That appreciation was on full display during a recent informal breakfast poll in Dunbar Dining Hall, when students and employees were asked, “Which teams are playing in the Super Bowl?” The (again, very informal!) results showed that only one student knew the matchup included the Patriots and the Seahawks, while seventeen students and employees could not name both teams. With a big grin, Enoch summed it up perfectly: “I love this place so much. I love it. I love it here so much.”
Throughout his time at Sterling, Enoch has consistently demonstrated enthusiasm, inquisitiveness, a sharp eye for detail, and the initiative to identify opportunities for improvement and lead meaningful change. Enoch is an exemplary Sterling student whose academic engagement, work ethic, and genuine care for community leave a lasting impact.
