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Shakespeare once asked, "What's in a name?" If you ask these young go-getters from some of the Best Colleges you've never heard of, not much. From winning Goldwater scholarships to producing groundbreaking research and receiving White House invitations, these College students prove that you don't need to attend a  

big-name college

  to make a name for yourself.

The Peacemaker
"Everybody said, 'You're crazy; you'd better not do that,'" recounts Christopher Rosson . "Everyone told me that I would get my head blown off." The threat of death may deter some college students, but it only motivated this William Jewell College (Liberty, MO) senior to pursue extreme studies overseas.

Through his school's study abroad program, Christopher traveled to England to study international relations at Oxford University. While there, he set his sights on the Middle East. "I studied Britain and the European Union and Israeli/Palestinian relations," he comments. "It really set off a 'fire in my belly,' [so much so that] I wanted to experience it firsthand."

Determined to see the conflict for himself, Christopher, an economics major, returned to Missouri after his study abroad program in search of the funding and academic support he'd need to one day return. Creating his research proposal and landing a $3,000 grant from The Hallmark Company was only half the battle. Braving two warring countries alone and finding willing interview participants would be the other.

With Cash in hand, Christopher traveled to the Middle East in hopes of discovering how the conflict affects average citizens in this area. "The sole purpose was 'I'm going to go and speak with people about anything and everything,' but particularly I tried to tie it into economics," he says. "When I went to the West Bank, I realized that there's a very strong connection between the level of poverty and the increase in violence."

Over a course of two weeks, Christopher conducted more than 200 interviews, which he'd later use toward his honors thesis. Upon completion of the project, William Jewell professors weren't the only ones who took notice. His project garnered national attention and landed Christopher an invitation to speak at the University of Pittsburgh's annual Session Middle East Conference. It also helped him win a spot on USA Today's 2006 All-Academic Team, which honors outstanding college students, and earned him an acceptance letter to grad school at big-name college Johns Hopkins University.

The Prodigy
Marzyeh Ghassemi is used to receiving acceptance letters from big-name colleges. Entering college at the age of 15, Marzyeh turned down an acceptance letter from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, Cambridge, MA) in favor of going to New Mexico State University (Las Cruces, NM). "My concern was that in a large school, it's very difficult to make a dent," she states. "At a smaller school, you can get to know your faculty, and make a much larger impact."

Making an impact is an understatement. The personalized attention and research opportunities Marzyeh received at New Mexico State gave her the support she needed to pursue a triple major in electrical engineering, computer science, and mathematics. She graduated with a 3.9 GPA, won a $7,500 Goldwater scholarship (one of only 300 given out across the nation), and landed a highly coveted post-grad job with Intel in their Rotational Engineering Program in Digital Health.

When it comes to choosing a school, Marzyeh urges students to look beyond the big-name colleges and instead examine what undergraduate opportunities a school can provide. "What I heard about MIT was the same as what I heard from my friends who went to Stanford and other large schools -- in large schools, the emphasis is on the prestige of the master's or the Ph.D. students, and the output of their research," she says. "The fact is, [my friends] couldn't get the individualized attention, the material, and the opportunities that I got at New Mexico State."

The CEO
Nadia Campbell encourages college students to create their own opportunities. At 22 years old, Nadia is the CEO of The Victorian Hands Foundation (TVHF), a nonprofit agency that serves the needs of the elderly. Starting the organization more than a decade ago, the social work major at Borough of Manhattan community college (New York, NY), who has impressed the likes of former New York mayor David Dinkins, is living proof that your own reputation can far exceed that of your school -- whether it's a big-name college or not.

"To me, I'm already a social worker -- I have 12 years under my belt," she comments. "It's what I do, I just don't have the degree yet."

Nadia started TVHF at the age of 11, after watching a "20/20" special with her grandmother on the negligence and abuse of the elderly. Motivated by the program, she started visiting nursing homes herself and began a club at her school to mobilize student volunteers. The Victorian Hands Club gained a substantial following, inspiring Nadia to apply for grants and turn it into an official nonprofit organization.

Today, the Foundation operates a team of volunteers across the country, and its young founder has received national press including an invitation to the White House, a personal commendation from U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and the opportunity to appear in a public service announcement that airs in United Artist movie theaters.

After finishing her degree, Nadia plans to use her new credentials to improve her organization. "National level, offices, and volunteers reaching out in each state, global scope; these are definitely my ultimate goals," she says. "I want TVHF to be the next Red Cross."

The Educator
Envisioning the global scope is what Darius Graham is all about. Besides founding Books All Around, a nonprofit agency that provides new books for community centers in low-income areas, this Florida A&M University (Tallahassee, FL) senior is also working to make establishing socially conscious programs a bit easier.

"When we first started, the idea was that we would only give out books in Tallahassee, but then it morphed," Darius says. "If we can do it here, people in other parts of the country can do it, too."

Books All Around now acts as a nonprofit agency as well as a Business model and resource for grassroots groups of all kinds across the country. Darius, who was also part of the 2006 USA Today All-Academic team, credits Florida A&M for providing him with his do-it-yourself enthusiasm.

"I have friends who go to Ivy League institutions and they have phenomenal opportunities, but one thing about being here is that I learned how to create a student organization, make it happen, and then pass it on to someone else. That's one of the skills I don't think I would have gotten anywhere else."

Who needs the Ivies?
These celebrities made it big without a degree from a big-name college.

Oprah Winfrey: Currently ranked as the world's most powerful celebrity, Lady O got her start as a communications major at Tennessee State University (Nashville, TN).
Samuel L. Jackson: Before he ever became a Jedi, a S.W.A.T. member, or one of "The Incredibles," Jackson was a drama student at Morehouse College (Atlanta, GA).
Matthew McConaughey: Though best known for being in front of the camera, McConaughey started out in the director's chair while studying film production at the University of Texas, Austin.
Steven Spielberg: After receiving 10 Emmys, two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, and one American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement Award, America's most heralded director returned to California for the one thing he was missing--his college diploma. In 2002, Spielberg graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a degree in, what else--film.
Tina Fey: From small-town Virginia to the Big Apple, "SNL's" sharp-witted writer and former cast member earned her bachelor's degree in drama from the University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA).

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