A record nine students in the Class of 2026 earned the distinction of valedictorian. All nine graduate with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
Mehir Badlani
Hometown: Chalfont, Pa.
Major: Interdepartmental major in chemistry and economics; Leadership in Medicine Program (MBA in healthcare management)
Activities: Leadership in Medicine Student Advisory Committee; Wold House Council; Organic Chemistry help tutor; Union Ambassador and Admissions representative; Honor Council; Chemistry/Biochemistry Club; Eastern New York American Chemical Society Young Chemist's Committee Executive board member; SDOH Intern at Hometown Health; SOSA Member; Fox Lab member; NHS study abroad; Phi Beta Kappa; Beta Gamma Sigma (Business Honor Society); Omicron Delta Epsilon (Economics Honor Society)
Favorite Class: “Chemical Instrumentation” with Laura MacManus-Spencer, associate professor of chemistry; “Inorganic Chemistry” with Laurie Tyler, professor of chemistry
What I will miss most: The kindness and positivity of professors and Union faculty
Advice for incoming students: Be open to trying new things, from getting involved on campus and trying new clubs, to challenging yourself and taking time to explore everything you can do at Union.
Life after Union: Albany Medical College
Cora Bessette
Hometown: Hinesburg, Vt.
Major: Classics
Minor: Psychology
Activities: Phi Beta Kappa; Eta Sigma Phi; president of Garnettes a cappella club; vice president, Classics Club; Head Resident Assistant; Summer Research Fellowship
Favorite Class: “Herodotus and Thucydides” with Gregory Callaghan, assistant professor of classics. I have specialized in Greek history in my time at Union, so getting the chance to translate Herodotus’ Histories was fascinating. I really enjoyed how Professor Callaghan encouraged our intellectual curiosity and gave us the freedom to pursue questions that we had a real interest in.
What I will miss most: Classics Department. All of the professors are so kind and helpful, and I have been able to build wonderful close relationships with all of them.
Advice for incoming students: Take a Classics class. Otherwise, I would recommend prioritizing balance. Union has so many opportunities that it is really easy to overextend, but make sure to work in social time, sleep and alone time, or you will burn out very quickly.
Life after Union: I am pursuing a master of arts in teaching Latin and classical humanities at University of Massachusetts Amherst. Following that, I plan to teach high school Latin.
Karmen Gill
Hometown: Great Falls, Va.
Major: Interdepartmental major in biology and sociology
Activities: Club soccer; Hip Hop; Bhangra; Minerva Council; study abroad in Greece; volunteer at Heritage Home for Women; Phi Beta Kappa
Favorite Class: “Evolutionary Medicine” with Roman Yukilevich, associate professor of biological sciences; “Intro to Health Systems” with Melinda Goldner, professor of sociology
What I will miss most: The friendships, laughter and countless memories created over the past four years
Advice for incoming students: Be open to change and try new things. These next four years will teach you so much about who you are and who you want to become. Stay curious, keep an open mind and make the most of every opportunity along the way.
Life after Union: Albany Medical College
Ava Hubert
Hometown: Coxsackie, N.Y.
Major: Neuroscience
Minor: Philosophy
Activities: Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society; Resident Assistant (RA); Supplemental Instructor (SI); Scholars Program; Club field hockey; Nu Rho Psi Honor Society in Neuroscience; Honor Council student representative
Favorite Class: “Sensation and Perception” with Zachary Buchin, visiting assistant professor of psychology; “Brain and Behavior” with Carol Weisse, the Ronald M. Obenzinger Professor of Psychology; “Aristotle on the Soul” with Krisanna Scheiter, professor of philosophy;“History of Medicine” with Patrick Singy, adjunct professor of history. I have learned so much from all of these professors, and I am incredibly grateful to them.
What I will miss most: The incredible people I have met at Union, from the Minerva RAs and club field hockey team to the irreplaceable friendships that made Union feel like home. Late nights in ISEC 390 will forever be a core memory for me.
Advice for incoming students: Take time for yourself. Do something you’re scared to, cultivate a new hobby, look for magic in the mundane. Being at college isn’t just about school, classes and grades; it’s about connecting with others and experiencing new things.
Life after Union: I will be taking a gap year to advance my data analysis skills before applying to Ph.D. programs in behavioral neuroscience, with the goal of becoming a professor in Neuroscience.
Vishaal Nayagam
Hometown: Ramsey, N.J.
Major: Interdepartmental major in biology and psychology
Activities: Phi Beta Kappa; Klemm Fellow in Cusco, Peru; Union College Lifeguards; Students of South Asia
Favorite Class: "Exercise Physiology" with Scott Kirkton, professor of biological sciences; “Biomedical Ethics” with Daniel Coutu, professor of philosophy
What I will miss most: The friendships I've built and the incredible community of classmates, faculty and staff who encouraged me to grow both inside and outside the classroom
Advice for incoming students: Always stand up for what you believe in. Be willing to consider different viewpoints and learn from others, but never be afraid to speak up and advocate for what you think is right, even when your opinion isn't the most popular one.
Life after Union: Albany Medical College
Katherine Robinson
Hometown: Towson, Md.
Major: Biomedical engineering
Activities: Vice president, Tau Beta Pi; BMES; ECBE Helpdesk tutor
Favorite Class): "Drug Delivery” with Stephanie Curley, assistant professor of biomedical engineering; “Biomedical Instrumentation” with Takashi Buma, associate professor of electrical, computer and biomedical engineering; “Polymeric Biomaterials” with Sudhir Khetan, associate professor of biomedical engineering.
What I will miss most: The friends I have made at Union, and how pretty campus is in the spring and fall
Advice for incoming students: Believe in yourself, don’t let self-doubt hold you back.
Life after Union: I plan to pursue a career in biotechnology and/or pharmaceuticals.
Allison Shelley
Hometown: Shaker Heights, Ohio
Majors: Classics, psychology
Activities: Phi Beta Kappa; Eta Sigma Phi; Psi Chi; Scholars Program; intramural volleyball; Classics Club; Run Club
Favorite Classes: "Women in Ancient Rome" with Stacie Raucci, the Frank Bailey Professor of Classics; "Seminar in Close Relationships" with Mariah Purol, assistant professor of psychology; "Greek Tragedy: Euripides Alcestis" with Hans-Friedrich Mueller, the Thomas Lamont Professor of Ancient and Modern Literature
What I will miss most: The campus community and the relationships I have formed here. I am so grateful for the faculty members who have provided support and guidance to me these past four years, and I will sincerely miss being a part of such a wonderful community.
Advice for incoming students: Explore classes and opportunities outside of your intended major. There are so many incredible faculty members and courses here.
Life after Union: I am planning to take a gap year to explore research opportunities before applying to graduate school.
Mai Tran
Hometown: Hanoi, Vietnam
Major: Psychology
Minor: Sociology
Activities: Scholars Program; Scholar’s mentor; Psi Chi; Sigma XI; Phi Beta Kappa; Honors Colloquium; Career Center's front desk assistant; International Advising work study student; BIWED lab; HART lab
Favorite Class: “Advanced Personality/Social Psychology” with Joshua Hart, professor of psychology; “History: Sociological Thought” with Melinda Goldner, professor of sociology; “Clinical Interventions 2” with Eddie Orlowski, former visiting assistant professor of psychology; “Psychology of Oppression” with Marlow Guerrant, visiting assistant professor of psychology; “Intermediate Japanese 1” with Junko Ueno, professor of Japanese
What I will miss most: Ruining my professors’ days by dropping in their office hours (my condolences Prof. K (Cameron Kay) and Prof. H (Joshua Hart), my room in Sorum 431, the dumplings at Dutch, Julie Brannon at the Career Center, everyone at the international advising/class deans office
Advice for incoming students: In this time of history, you cannot stay neutral when lives are being deprived in this country and the world. Neutrality and silence are complicit in enabling these gruesome events. I hope you continue to advocate for the right side of history in both your classroom and on campus.
Life after Union: Graduate school
Ha Truong
Hometown: Hanoi, Vietnam
Major: Computer science
Activities: Computer Science Help Desk; Union Neurotech; Sorum House Council.
Favorite Class: I can't pick. I have taken way too many interesting classes at Union College. Any computer science classes I have taken were a blast. “Computer Organization” was one of the classes that stood out to me the most in recent memory. It's one of the more unique computer science classes. Shoutout to Chris. He is one of my favorite professors. I also loved all my German classes. Thank you, Frau Bell, Frau Erika and Herr Dawson for nurturing my love for the German language and culture.
What I will miss most: All the wonderful people I have met here. I will miss the 4 a.m. poker sessions with my friends, the occasional 6/7 jokes and the chance to meet and learn from some of the most amazing professors.
Advice for incoming students: Be adventurous. You will always find time and energy to meet all the schoolwork deadlines. If not, what's another all-nighter? You are young.
Life after Union: I will be applying for a master's in Europe. I enjoyed my study abroad there way too much.