Honoring 29 stellar graduates of our 29 public college and university campuses Thursday, May 2, 2013 Massachusetts State House mass.edu/29whoshine 1 The Ceremony Welcome Charles F. Desmond, Chairman Massachusetts Board of Higher Education 29 Who Shine Procession Music “America the Beautiful” The Allegrettos Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Opening Remarks Richard M. Freeland, Commissioner Massachusetts Department of Higher Education Matthew Malone, Secretary of Education Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Honorable Deval L. Patrick, Governor Commonwealth of Massachusetts 29 Who Shine Awards University of Massachusetts Awards presented by Marty Meehan, Chancellor University of Massachusetts Lowell With a special appearance by the UMass Lowell River Hawks, 2013 Hockey East Champions State University Awards presented by Evan Dobelle, President Westfield State University Community College Awards presented by William F. Messner, President Holyoke Community College Celebratory Luncheon to follow, generously sponsored by the Massachusetts Teachers Association Each 29 Who Shine honoree, their faculty/staff mentor, and their four additional campus or personal guests are invited into the Great Hall for a seated reception during which the 29 Who Shine will honor their mentors. Musical entertainment provided by the Woody Vainqueur Duo from Roxbury Community College. Other guests are invited to enjoy lunch in the ceremony space. Event Photos Professional photographs from today’s event will be available on Monday, May 6, at: www.mass.edu/29whoshine 2 Alyssa L. Trinidad Meet the… UMass Boston Alyssa is a management major (accounting concentration) who will graduate from UMass Boston with a 3.9 GPA. A recipient of the Chancellor’s Scholarship, Alyssa has been on the Honors Program Director’s List and Dean’s List every semester and is a member of both the Golden Key International Honor Society and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. She mentors new students at the Beacon Beginnings Orientation and serves as a College of Management Peer Leader; as an officer for the business fra- ternity, Delta Sigma Pi; and as a College of Management Ambassador. Alyssa has also volunteered for numerous non-profit organizations including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, where she uses her account- ing skills to help manage donations and fiscal records. Alyssa will spend a third summer interning at the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche and then enter Boston College, with the aid of a Dean’s Scholarship, to continue her accounting studies. From the five campuses of the University Faculty/Staff Mentor: Alyssa chose to recognize Joyce Morrissey, Honors Program Coordinator. “As my Honors advisor for four years, Joyce of Massachusetts… has always been my number-one academic and personal supporter. When I have felt overwhelmed, she has exercised her genuine care to appease the Caroline Conena pressures. I cannot express how lucky I have been to have been mentored by her throughout my undergraduate career.” UMass Amherst Caroline graduates from UMass Amherst with a 4.0 GPA and a double major in public Lauren E. Underwood health and business management. This UMass Dartmouth honors student and track-and-field athlete Lauren is a civil engineering major and an has shown a dedication to her campus and active member of the UMass Dartmouth surrounding community ever since arriving community. She is the Lead Ambassador in on campus. As a UMass Peer Mentor, Caro- the Admissions Office, becoming one of the line provided crucial academic support to first faces prospective students and families incoming freshmen. As an Honors College see. She also coordinates the efforts of other Peer Ambassador, she met with Massachusetts high school students to student ambassadors. acquaint them with the College’s programs and opportunities. Within the Engineering College, Lauren is For two years, Caroline has interned at CommunicateHealth, a health the student representative on the Civil Engi- communication and literacy firm in Northampton, MA. She was neering Committee and the Undergraduate part of a team that created the Massachusetts Department of Public Engineering Student Council. She is also Secretary of the American Health’s new universal disaster communications tool for people with Society of Civil Engineers, Chairperson of the NE Regional Concrete limited English skills. Caroline will take a job with CommunicateHealth Canoe Competition, and a member of Engineers Without Borders. upon graduation. Lauren is a member of the UMass Dartmouth Wind Ensemble, trip Faculty/Staff Mentor: Caroline chose to recognize Paula Stamps, Ph.D., leader in the Outdoor Club and a volunteer at the Worker’s Education Professor and Graduate Program Director, Department of Public Health, Program in New Bedford. Upon graduation she will work as a civil Health Policy and Management. “I knew public health was the right path engineer at North Star Industries in Methuen. for me after taking Professor Stamp’s class, ‘Health Care for All.’ She not Faculty/Staff Mentor: Lauren chose to recognize Kelley Mahoney, only influenced my early exploration in public health but, the other Assistant Director of Admissions. “I have worked with Kelley for almost four week, signed off on my honors thesis. This had been a yearlong effort years. She has brought me stability and has always been there for me both during which she supported my research and encouraged my passion professionally and personally.” for health communication.” 3 Vladimir L. Saldana From Massachusetts’ nine state UMass Lowell universities and specialty colleges… Vladimir moved to Lowell from the Dominican Republic at age 10. Learning Kayla L. Harvey English quickly, he discovered a passion for Bridgewater State University business in high school that propelled him to become the first person in his family to Kayla is a political science major and a pursue a college education. student in the BSU Honors Program. She has participated in two alternative break Vladimir earned an associate’s degree in trips focusing on the issues of poverty and business administration at Middlesex homelessness, participated in student gov- Community College and then enrolled at ernment, served as the student representa- UMass Lowell where he distinguished himself as a resident adviser, tive on the BSU Foundation, and worked as academic success chair of the campus organization Men Achieving a student employee for the Campus Center. Leadership, Excellence and Success (M.A.L.E.S.) and as a member of Kayla has received multiple grants to help the Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society. fund her research projects on immigration and community service. She Vladimir has interned with the Merrimack Valley Sandbox, an initiative has also interned for the Washington Center at the Republican National that fosters regional entrepreneurship and leadership, and studied Convention and at Andre House of Arizona, a hospitality center for international business at the University of Barcelona. He has worked the homeless in Phoenix. After graduation, Kayla plans to pursue her at the Northern Massachusetts Telephone Workers Community Credit master’s degree in higher education and student affairs. Union for four years. He will continue his education in the field of business or law, with the goal of a career combining his love of Faculty/Staff Mentor: Kayla chose to recognize Beth Goad, Assistant business and community service. Director of the Rondileau Campus Center. “During my time at BSU, Beth helped to connect me to so many great opportunities and inspired me to Faculty/Staff Mentor: Vladimir chose to recognize David Jones, Director pursue a career in higher education. I consider her to not only be a great of Multicultural Affairs. “David Jones has been a role model for me. He has mentor, but also a truly great friend.” inspired me with his passion for leadership and academic achievement, which has pushed me to work hard. He is also someone I can count on when I need advice or guidance. I also admire his commitment to Matthew William Costello academia, as he is pursuing his doctorate in education.” Fitchburg State University Matthew’s academic accomplishments have Meredith Walsh brought national recognition to Fitchburg State University, while his spirit of civic UMass Medical School engagement has helped strengthen the With a bachelor’s degree from Smith Col- bonds between the university and the city lege, a master’s in public health from Tulane in which it resides. University, and a Peace Corps stint in the A five-time Dean’s List honoree, Matthew Philippines already under her belt, Meredith took his written and rhetorical skills Walsh, MPH, RN, spent four years in Thailand to the nationwide stage in the American on the Burma border, working in and out of Collegiate Moot Court Association national tournament. He competed refugee camps where she conducted health with distinction against much larger institutions, winning brief-writing assessments for the American Refugee awards in his final two years of competition. Committee and implemented reproduc- tive and child health projects with the Mae Tao Clinic and the Burma On campus, Matthew was elected president of his freshman class, Medical Association. served as student representative to the University’s board of trustees for two years, and was elected president of the Student Government Realizing that clinical skills would enable her to do more for displaced, Association. Matthew will earn a Bachelor of Science in Political Science traumatized refugees, she enrolled in UMass Medical School’s Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in pre-law. School of Nursing, entering through the Graduate Entry Pathway program to complete her Master of Science in Nursing. Meredith Faculty/Staff Mentor: Matthew chose to recognize Paul Weizer, cofounded the Worcester Refugee Assistance Project (WRAP) to Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Since I enrolled at Fitchburg support the city’s growing community of refugees from Burma. Her State, Dr. Weizer has been someone I’ve admired and looked up to greatly, volunteer activities have been supported by multiple awards, including as a teacher, mentor, and friend.