| UAlbany's seniors—accomplished, outstanding and ready to make their mark on the world
UAlbany is graduating many exceptional seniors who have used their four years to pursue and extract all the countless opportunities that are available at this great University. It is impossible to mention all of these outstanding young men and women, but here are a representative few:
At UAlbany: Brian has always had a strong interest in government and public service, which is why he decided to major in political science. UAlbany's affordability, large campus size, and its proximity to the state capital made the college a perfect fit for him. As one of the "RACC Rowdies" Brian enjoys cheering
on UAlbany's athletics teams. He recalls his
favorite memory as being the overnight campout in
front of the RACC for tickets to the America East
Conference Championship. When UAlbany successfully
defeated Vermont and landed a spot in the NCAA
Tournament, Brian rushed the basketball court to
excitedly congratulate the winning team. He said:
"It was by far the most school spirit I have ever
seen at UAlbany." Future: Although his undergraduate career is
coming to an end, Brian will continue on at UAlbany
as a graduate student pursuing a master's degree in
public administration. As far as his plans for the
future, he says he would like be "working for the
federal government in Washington, D.C., in the
Defense or Homeland Security field...knock
on wood!" Favorites: Quote: It can't hurt to try.
At UAlbany: In the summer of 2005 Darwin interned for Verizon where he worked for their Human Resources department in college relations and recruitment. His job was to contact college career centers throughout the nation, to build relationships with them, and to search for qualified recent graduates for Verizon. He stayed in constant contact with the company's hiring managers to find the best qualified candidates, and eventually extended formal job offers to those whom Verizon wanted to hire. On campus Darwin worked as a housing manager for the University Apartments, served on the University Auxiliary Services Board of Directors and on the Parking Appeals Board. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Future: Darwin's academic achievements in UAlbany's nationally recognized accounting program won him the notice of Ernst & Young, LLP. After graduation, he will join that firm as a tax associate. Favorites: Quote: Don't frown because you never know who may be falling in love with your smile.
At UAlbany: Evelyn chose UAlbany because of its reputable School of Criminal Justice. "I was interested in law and wanted to see if criminal law was something I wanted to pursue," she said. "Very few schools offer such undergraduate programs." Music also played a large role in Evelyn's life and she loved being involved in the UAlbany Chamber Singers and Chorale. Future: Evelyn will be pursuing a master's degree in French at UAlbany, but her post-graduation plans include law school. In 10 years, Evelyn sees herself living in France while practicing law at an international firm. Favorites: Quote: People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. - Unknown
At UAlbany: Like most freshmen, Aliya came to UAlbany with little idea of what she wanted to study. She took a class on public policy to fulfill a GenEd requirement and found her passion. In her sophomore year she became involved with the Middle Earth Peer Assistance Program. Aliya is part of Outreach, the Middle Earth Players, and served as the historian in 2004-2005 academic year and president in the 2005-2006 academic year. Through Middle Earth she was elected to the position of Student Trustee for the BACCHUS Network, a national peer education organization. One of her favorite experiences with Middle Earth was working as a facilitator for alcohol intervention programs through a grant awarded by the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse to study the effectiveness of peer influence. Aliya truly believes it is important for students to be involved on their campus because it shrinks a school of 12,000 undergraduates to a community of friends. Future: In the fall Aliya will continue her studies in the master's degree program in public administration at UAlbany's Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. Favorites: Quote: I try to laugh at whatever life brings because when I look down I miss all the good stuff and when I look up I just trip over things. - Ani Difranco
At UAlbany: Matt's interest in criminal justice led him to UAlbany's Moot Court team. His favorite academic memory was winning the quarter finals of the Moot Court Competition. Matt said, "It felt really good to have all the hard work pay off in the long run, and it has provided me much understanding in regard to prepping a legal argument." Future: Matt will be attending Loyola (New Orleans) Law School. In 10 years he hopes to be working as a prosecutor. His main interests in law reside in understanding why criminals commit their crimes. Favorites: Quote: Fun ain't easy if it ain't free.
At UAlbany: Melissa was also extremely involved in extracurricular activities on campus, especially with Project SHAPE. She joined the Midnight Madness Basketball League after tryouts in December 2004. She has been playing basketball since the fourth grade in a town league, the North Bellmore North Merrick Basketball League. "My dad was my coach then and he taught me to play," she said. "Midnight Basketball League was a great place to go and hang out. The games are competitive and fun to watch. It's a great way to spend a Friday and Saturday night. Also, it's free, which everyone knows is great for college students!" Future: Med school and 10 years from now, she would like to be a pediatric reconstructive plastic surgeon. Favorites: Exercising, spending time with friends, hanging out around the fountain when it's warm out.
At UAlbany: From the beginning, Joe knew that he wanted to follow the business administration track. Because of UAlbany's excellent reputation and that of the School of Business, he knew that UAlbany was where he wanted to attend college. He recalled, "The environment was welcoming, the people were friendly and the energy was definitely there. The University at Albany also has an excellent track record for placing graduates in major companies and corporations throughout the United States." He advises incoming UAlbany students to "make sure to balance your schedule between work and play," since there are so many activities to join on the UAlbany campus. "Getting involved and becoming part of the next generation of student leaders on campus is very important for the overall success of the University." Some of his best moments at UAlbany were connected with the 2006 men's basketball team winning the America East Championships and then going to the NCAA Tournament. "I have never seen so much school spirit and pride in the RACC before. My friends and I traveled with the team to Philadelphia, where they played an incredible game against UCONN. Those are memories that I will have for the rest of my life." Future: Joe will be working full-time as an analyst at JP Morgan Chase beginning in August 2006. He hopes to eventually go back to school for an M.B.A. Ten years from now, Joe pictures himself as a wealthy partner or vice president of a Park Avenue firm in New York City. Favorites: Quote: Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it,
and work at it until it's done right.
At UAlbany: Before coming to UAlbany, Edgardo served in the United States Marine Corps, where he reached the rank of sergeant. Since his arrival at UAlbany he has found it to be "very refreshing to be in an environment where students are proud to express themselves, where they welcome each other and share in one another's experiences." He was highly involved in research at UAlbany, especially in Caro-Beth Stewart's laboratory in the biology department. He studied the molecular evolution of AIDS-related genes in primates. "I've also been fortunate enough to win scholarships and internships that have helped finance my educational expenses," he said. Future: After graduation, Edgardo will have a summer internship in biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health. In the fall, he'll start in a combined M.D./Ph.D. program at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. Ten years from now, Edgardo figures he'll be in the middle of a medical residency program. "I have a long road ahead of me," he said. His ultimate goal is to practice medicine and conduct research, either in the Bronx or Washington, D.C., and to "give back" to the community through his work in science and medicine. Favorites: Running and bike-riding, hanging out with friends, family and his girlfriend, listening to music, and playing chess. Quote: Sometimes we pay the most for the things we get for free. |
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