This year once again, my pride in the graduating class is overflowing. Let me highlight for you just a few of the new alumni and their achievements.
Twelve were accepted to medical and dental schools. Mark Fealey is headed to veterinary school at Cornell University; going to dental schools are Sheldon Rozman at the University of Pennsylvania, William Rivera at Columbia University, swim team member Josephine Ieraci at the University of Connecticut, Student Government Association President Greg Balaes at Rutgers, and Krey Keller, a lacrosse team member, at Creighton University.
Another 10 are headed to Ph.D. programs. Bujar Tagani will be attending the top-rated doctoral program in computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. Katie Yoest will enroll in the Ph.D. program in behavioral neuroscience at the University of Michigan. KariAnna Eide-Lindsay is entering a Ph.D. program in Hispanic literature at Rutgers, and Anthony Gambino in quantitative psychology at Columbia. Physics majors Vincent Lombardo and Carley Nicoletti will attend the Stevens Institute of Technology and the New Jersey Institute of Technology, respectively. Kelly Dennis, an excellent athlete on the track and cross country team, will pursue her Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Southern California.
Another six are on their way to law school, such as James Alicea at Cornell University and Adam Nicolais at Fordham University. Some will enter master’s programs, such as Katherine Fias at the New York Studio School for painting, and Mirabai Dougé, a double major in French and English, at Hunter College for education. Elise Trudel and Rhea Francani, who were both active in the Port Richmond Partnership, will begin master’s programs at Columbia University Teachers College.
A significant number entered the job market. Sutton Bantle will begin a career with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Catie Grasso and Joseph Jamison both secured positions with Merrill Lynch; Nicole Arnold with the Securities and Exchange Commission; Paul Barchitta with Cowen and Company; Michael Savino with J.P. Morgan; and Carl Sinagra Jr. with the Bank of New York Mellon. Ashley Vanger is employed in the criminal justice system with the NYPD. A number have offers in health care, such as Amanda Diekmann, Eileen Coltrinari, and Miranda Nicoletti at New York-Presbyterian Hospital; Keri Pippo at Mt. Sinai Hospital; and Cicely Edwards, Naira Feinberg, Nwando Nzegwu, Elda Ziko, and Clare Brown at Staten Island University Hospital.
Watch the video of my speech to the graduating class to hear about more outstanding graduates — in the theater program, athletics, nursing, the physician assistant program, the Port Richmond Partnership, and in every other major and program. In addition, the class of 2013 made a record senior gift of $15,000 for a scholarship.
In an age too often marked by hatred, terrorism, severe environmental stress, widening gulfs of wealth, literacy, and access to basic healthcare, their generation is destined to usher in a new type of leadership, where knowledge and empathy are joined to social responsibility and effective action. They have my deepest affection and best wishes.
Richard Guarasci
President
LEARN MORE:
Watch President Guarasci give his address to the class of 2013.
