June 2017 News Archive

Bioengineering:

Yesenia Castelan '18

  Project: Clinical Immersion Developments with the Biomedical Acceleration and Commercialization Center

  Adviser: Jennifer Currey 

Matthew Drum '18

  Project: AMC Clinical Immersion Program

  Adviser: Sudhir Khetan

Sonja Hansson '18

  Project: AMC Clinical Immersion Program

  Adviser: Sudhir Khetan

Luke McCaffrey '18

For most of her young life, Myalin Schnitzer was forced to rely solely on her left arm to enjoy typical kid activities. Whether riding a bike, climbing a rock wall or flipping the pages of a book, the precocious girl had to adapt to using only her left hand.

Born in Luohe City, China, with an upper limb deficiency, Myalin is missing part of her right arm. Fitted with a conventional prosthetic when she was three, Myalin found it too unwieldy and uncomfortable. She rarely used it.

Candidates for bachelor's degrees include:

First Name
Last Name
CITY
STATE
MAJOR
HONORS

Joshua
Abolt
Waccabuc
NY
Psychology
 

Jacqueline
Aboulafia
Scarsdale
NY
Political Science
Cum Laude

Jonathan
Adsit
Clifton Park
NY
Economics
 

Growing up as the son of an oncologist, Matt Wu ’17 was familiar with the long, downward spiral faced by many cancer patients. He viewed death solely as a negative experience.

When he arrived at Union from Bellevue, Wash. and started taking Leadership in Medicine classes, the biology and sociology major began learning about hospice and the comfort it affords the afflicted.

First, let me thank Audrey Hunt, Student Forum President. I’d also like to thank Diane McMullen and the many students who have shared or are about to share their musical gifts with us. Let me also thank the wonderful student speakers, our faculty speaker Professor Nadiaye. Thanks is also in order for Emily Tong, Mary D’Amelia, Diane Meyers, and the members of the Commencement Committee who are listed in the program.

I want to thank our honorary degree recipients – John Sexton and Tyler Jacks – for being with us today. Each of you are visionaries who, in your respective areas, have provided us with glimpses of a better world. We are proud to count you as members of our Union community.

Please thank again our student speaker, Matt Wu, for his passion for storytelling and for sharing it with us.

If you know me, you know I love storytelling. Here at Union, I worked as the editor-in-chief of the Concordiensis, the school newspaper, which allowed me to tell your stories to the world. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to share one final story, my favorite Union story. No, it’s not about me - this is the story of Rick and Ella.

As their time at Union comes to a close, take a look back at the Class of 2017 and their impact on the College.

The class set a new record for applications to Union. 5,643 students applied, making it the most competitive Admissions year to date. (The new record for applications has since topped 6,652)

Total graduates: 475, representing 24 states and 14 countries 

Bachelor of Arts degrees: 208

Hometown: Bellevue, Wash.

Major: Biology and Sociology; Leadership in Medicine program

Activities: Editor-in-chief of the Concordiensis, Senior Admissions Interviewer, Greek Judicial Board, Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity (treasurer), Community Hospice volunteer

Favorite class: Immunology with Professor Robert Lauzon (Biology)

Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.

Major: Biology and Economics, Interdepartmental

Activities: Terra Dance Company (founder and president), AOP and Economics Support Center tutor, Project Sunshine president, healthcare management research, extracurricular dance and performance

Favorite class: Academic: Senior Thesis/Health Informatics. Non-academic: Tap II