Meet five members of the graduating class who are ready to make their communities鈥攁nd our world鈥攅ver better.
Major: English
Hometown:聽New Brunswick, New Jersey
Colon has dedicated more than 600 hours as a tutor for LEAP (Learning and Exploring at Play), is a youth leader at her church, and a coordinator of the Safe Haven program, keeping urban children safe, occupied, and learning during the summer months.
What’s next: She will enroll in the University鈥檚 Warner School of Education to pursue her master鈥檚 degree in teaching and curriculum as she works to become a high school English teacher.
鈥淚 feel that if I鈥檓 being that role model, being that mentor, being that educator, they will be able to see that it鈥檚 possible to achieve your dreams, to reach for your goals.鈥�
Majors: computer science and business
Hometown: Ariana, Tunisia
Kallel served as president of the Computer Science Undergraduate Council, helped organize the RocHACK hackathon, played club volleyball, and worked on the team that developed ROCSpeak, a software program that helps people improve their public speaking skills.
What’s next: Kallel will be doing a Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year. His project has him travelling to 20 countries in eight months, doing research on emerging markets in Africa.
鈥淚鈥檒l compile my experience and put it all into perspective. I鈥檒l see what worked in other countries. I want to make a difference鈥攊n Tunisia and everywhere.鈥�
Majors: political science and African-American studies
Hometown: 糖心logo New York
Goodlet has served as president of the Douglass Leadership House and has held leadership positions in the Black Students’ Union and the Xclusive Step Team. In her work with the Office of Faculty Development and Diversity, she worked on a research project analyzing 10 years of data on faculty diversity.
What’s next: After a summer internship at a think tank in Washington, D.C., Goodlet will pursue a master鈥檚 degree in political science or Africana studies at SUNY Albany before working toward a law degree.
鈥淔or me what鈥檚 important is that I leave a legacy behind or that I鈥檓 able to reach out and help others as I climb up the ladder to success.鈥�
Major: English
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Borst-Smith was named to the 2017 National Association of Basketball Coaches鈥� Division III All-America Team. He also won the 2016 State Farm Assist of the Year competition for an intentionally missed free throw and assist to teammate Mack Montague 鈥�17 for a buzzer-beater in overtime. Video of the clip went viral and was shared widely around the world.
What’s next: After graduation he鈥檒l be playing basketball professionally in Europe.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been honestly everything that I can ask for and more.鈥�
Majors: classical saxophone performance and music theory
Hometown: Palmyra, New York
Venturino was an active of several ensembles at the Eastman School of Music, including the Highland Saxophone Quartet, the Eastman Saxophone Project, and the Eastman Wind Ensemble. As both a soloist and chamber musician, Venturino has played in venues such as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing.
What’s next: Venturino plans to begin a PhD program in music theory in the fall.
