A record seven students of the Class of 2025 earned the distinction of valedictorian. All seven graduate with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
Gabriella Baratier
Hometown: Altamont, N.Y.
Majors: English, history
Minors: Political science; Science, Technology and Society (STS)
Activities: Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Alpha Theta; Sigma Tau Delta; Scholars Program; Writing Center coordinator and Peer Mentor; Student Assistant at Special Collections and Archives; Ruth Anne Evans Research Fellow; Pride Club (Communications Chair); A More Equitable Union (Communications Chair).
Favorite class(es): “Literature of the Manor House” with Andrew Burkett, professor of English; “Technology and Empire” with Sohini
Chattopadhyay, assistant professor of history; “Taming Big Data with Nick Webb, associate professor of computer science; and my senior thesis with Judith Lewin, associate professor of English and department chair; Elena McGrath, assistant professor of history; and Jennifer Mitchell 04, professor of English.
What I will miss most: The dear friends I have made, and the wonderful faculty and staff, who have challenged and inspired me to grow both personally and intellectually.
Advice for incoming students: Get involved in things that you are passionate about. If there are events you can think of that you wish were held on campus, organize them!
Life after Union: I will be working as a museum assistant at the Schenectady County Historical Society this summer. In the fall, I will be attending the University at Albany, where I will be enrolled in their dual M.A. in public history and M.S. information science program.
Maren Friday
Hometown: Duluth, Minn.
Major: Mechanical engineering
Activities: Captain of the women’s hockey team; vice president of Pi Tau Sigma
Favorite class: “Design of Mechanical Systems” with William Keat, professor of mechanical engineering
What I will miss most: Being surrounded by engaging peers and professors who challenged me and encouraged my growth as a student and athlete.
Advice for incoming students: Don’t shy away from what is challenging and enjoy your time at Union. … it goes by fast.
Life after Union: I plan to pursue a role in medical device design.
Gabriella Gatto
Hometown: Westport, Conn.
Major: Psychology
Minor: Sociology
Activities: Cognitive psychology research assistant; Pen Pal Program; Run Club; Psychology Department Student Hiring Committee.
Favorite class (es): “Brain and Behavior” with Carol Weisse, the Ronald M. Obenzinger Professor of Psychology; and Spanish-200 with Silvina Yi, assistant professor of Spanish and Hispanic studies.
What I will miss most: Spontaneous and random chit-chats with friends, professors, and classmates.
Advice for incoming students: Be both open to help and willing to offer it. There are more people looking out for you than you might expect, and you can be that person for others, too.
Life after Union: I’m planning to take a gap year to gain more research experience before applying to Ph.D. programs in cognitive psychology or cognitive neuroscience.
Taryn LaFontaine
Hometown: Mayfield, N.Y.
Major: Biomedical engineering
Activities: Tau Beta Pi, Biomedical Engineering Society
Favorite class: “Biomedical Instrumentation” with Takashi Buma, associate professor of electrical, computer and biomedical engineering, and “Polymeric Biomaterials” with Sudhir Khetan, associate professor of biomedical engineering. The class was a culmination of all of the previous coursework for BME, as it included a combination of biology, mechanics and electrical engineering. “Polymeric Biomaterials” was a course on a topic I had little knowledge of, and I was quickly drawn to the challenge of the material along with the multitude of applications in the field.
What I will miss most: The community at Union. I had some of the most amazing professors and classmates in the ECBE department, and I am so grateful for their support over the years.
Advice for incoming students: Enjoy every minute at Union! These next four years will go so much faster than you realize.
Life after Union: Process engineer at Epimed International in Johnstown, N.Y.
Trevor Smick
Hometown: Medford, N.J.
Major: Economics
Minor: Psychology
Activities: Theta Delta Chi; Klemm Fellow in Koh Tao, Thailand; Peer Career Advisor at Career Center; Golf Club; Ski Club; Phi Beta Kappa
Favorite class: Both of the classes I have taken with Andrew Morris, professor of history and chair of the department: “The Great Depression and the New Deal” and “Postwar America and the Cold War.” I enjoy American history, and Professor Morris is the best, most engaging professor I have had at Union.
What I will miss most: The friendships I’ve built at Union and the close proximity to those friends. This was especially true during my junior year when my fraternity brothers and I all lived together in one house. College is one of the few times in life when a person can be constantly surrounded by a tight-knit group of friends who spend most of their free time together.
Advice for incoming students: Find balance. It is extremely important to live a balanced life between school, friends and hobbies. This extends to the curriculum as well. Explore interest areas outside of your major. Time management and keeping track of things in a calendar are key.
Life after Union: I will be starting my career in finance as a sales and trading analyst at Citigroup in New York.
Abby Wilder
Hometown: Lansing, N.Y.
Majors: Mathematics, sociology
Minors: Data analytics, dance
Activities: Beekeeping Club (treasurer); Tap Club (treasurer); Admissions tour guide; Orientation leader and Leadership pre-orientation leader; Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society; circulation supervisor at Schaffer Library; Calculus Help Center tutor; Scholars Program
Favorite class: Choreography with Hettie Barnhill. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with five beautiful dancers to share my story in the Winter Dance Concert.
What I will miss most: The sense of community in the dance program
Advice for incoming students: Union offers an abundance of academic and extracurricular opportunities, but it is the most fulfilling to focus your energy on just a few that genuinely excite and inspire you.
Life after Union: I plan to stay in the Capital Region to pursue a career that merges my passions for quantitative analysis with my commitment to social impact.
Michael York
Hometown: Cinnaminson, N.J.
Major: Electrical engineering
Minor: Mechanical engineering
Activities: Captain of SAE Aero; Early Music Ensemble; Scholars Program; engineering ambassador; ECBE Helpdesk tutor; mailroom staffer
Favorite class: “Control Systems” with Luke Dosiek, professor of electrical and computer engineering. It was a fascinating class that is an intersection of many kinds of engineering. It led me into my work with my capstone project, and it will be my focus in my graduate studies.
What I will miss most: All of the families I've made over the last four years here. It has been amazing to be a part of such incredible communities here, and I'm proud of what I'll be leaving behind.
Advice for incoming students: Don't be afraid to stick up for what you believe in. You should always keep an open mind, but it's important to speak up. People who are older or have more experience can still make mistakes. You may be surprised at what you can accomplish as a student.
Life after Union: I'll be pursuing an electrical engineering master's program at the University of Pennsylvania and working with the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Philadelphia.
Commencement news
