The Sacred Path Ceremony

Dua Ahmad- Marjorie Frew Knox Memorial Prize in Biological Science

• Dua has been involved in research at the Child Health Institute of New Jersey as a research assistant. She has received the Marjorie Frew Knox Memorial Prize in Biological Sciences. She volunteers at Saint Peter's University Hospital and PennMedicine Princeton Health Center because she wanted to help out hospitals during the pandemic. After graduation, Dua plans to continue her volunteering activities, take a gap year and apply to graduate school.

Leyla Asgar - Ida Raitano Prize & Irene Figarotta Pearse Prize for a Bunting Student

• Leyla Asgar has been a human rights activist in her own country. After moving to the United States, she continued to be involved with human rights activism. Volunteered in Amnesty International Boston group, has been advocated for the rights of mentally disabled students from Judge Rotenberg Center. After graduation, she plans to apply for Ph.D. in Philosophy of Mind and Cognitive Science.

Jusleen Basra - Janet Duncan Prize for the Outstanding Senior Douglass Scholar

• Jusleen has been involved in the SAS Honors Program as the Media Director, an Honors Ambassador, and more. She received the ‘22 Janet Duncan Prize for the Outstanding Senior Douglass Scholar and the ’20 E. R. McCullough Scholarship. She will present her senior thesis on food system resiliency at the Johns Hopkins Richard Macksey Symposium in April. After graduation, Jusleen hopes to work in environmental policy research.

Lauren Best - Cornelison Prize in Classics

• Lauren has been involved in the Anthologist, Rutgers' oldest literary magazine, and Rainbow Pines, DRC's LGBTQ organization. She is a research assistant through the Aresty Research Center, learning and developing ideas about Neanderthal evolution and fire. Lauren also volunteers with Crisis Text Line, and upon graduation, she plans to study human evolution and biological anthropology in graduate school, all while continuing to pursue her love of the ancient world.

Olivia Becker - Marguerite Lentz Richards Prize in French

• Olivia Becker (English & French majors, Biological Sciences minor): Olivia Becker has been involved with Rutgers Habitat for Humanity as the Secretary, Students for Environmental Awareness as the lead of the Climate Campaign, and RUThrifty. She received the Marguerite Lentz Richards Prize in French, the G. Reginal Bishop, Jr. Scholarship, and the Dr. and Mrs. Edmond Lipton Scholarship. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school for English and complete a doctorate in ecocritical studies and the environmental humanities.

Nicolette Alexandra Brito-Cruz - Douglass Residential College Social Justice Award

• Nicolette Alexandra has been involved in Celebrating Latinx Arts and Works, Latin American Student Organization, and the Rainbow Pines as a Fundraising chair, Social Media Intern, and Social Outreach Chair. They received the Douglass Residential College Social Justice Award. Nicolette Alexandra interns at the Rutgers University Press office. After graduation, they plan to become a foreign correspondent to write about issues surrounding gender, race, sexuality, and other aspects of identity. 

Tyshana Campbell- Jewel Plummer Cobb Senior Recognition Award for the Outstanding African-American Douglass College Senior

• Tyshana has been involved in the BOLD Empower Program and the Ronald E. McNair Program. As well as a member of the Gamma Kappa Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. She has presented research with Dr. Nichole Garcia on the Impact of Disasters among LatinX Undergraduates in California at the UCLA National McNair Scholars Conference and the Black Doctoral Network Conference. Tyshana also interned and worked for the Rutgers Football team’s Athletic Training Department. Her plans after graduation, are to attend grad school with the trajectory of becoming a Sports Psychologist.

Amy Flather - Katherine Hazard Prize in Mathematics

• Amy Flather received the Katherine Hazard Prize in Mathematics.  She has been involved in experimental particle physics research with Professor Mastbaum as an undergraduate researcher and presented on the topic of Millicharged Particles at the American Physical Society (APS) April Meeting 2022.  After graduation, Amy plans to pursue a graduate degree to eventually earn her PhD in physics.

Julia Fuchs - Margaret Atwood Judson Prize in History

• Julia Fuchs is a member of the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University in the class of 2022. Fuchs transferred to Rutgers during Spring of 2020, having been unhappy at her previous institution. Fuchs has a double major in history and anthropology, with a minor in French. Throughout her experience at Rutgers, she has enjoyed combining her interests in academic research. She is most interested in digital humanities and ancient Egypt. Outside of the classroom, Fuchs is a writing tutor for the Learning Center, a Resident Assistant, the senior editor of Her Campus, Committee Head for Douglass Arts Advisory Board, an opinion columnist for the Daily Targum, and a Girl Scout Troop leader.

Shreya Gupta - Veronique Henriksen Junior Prize for Academic Achievement

• Shreya Gupta holds leadership positions in several organizations, including the Douglass Research Advisory Board and STEM Ambassadors. She received the Veronique Henriksen Junior Prize for Academic Achievement. She presented her research in chemical biology at the Project SUPER Symposium and GS-LSAMP Conference. She volunteers at the Angelic Health Hospice and Palliative Care Center to support patients’ wellbeing. After graduation, Shreya plans to attend medical school to become a physician.

Andrea Jimenez - Margery Somers Foster Senior Service Award

• Andrea has been involved in the Social Media Ambassador Program, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Ambassador, a Barbara Voorhees Mentor, a Board Member of the Dean's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Board, Delta Gamma Sister, and previous Secretary to the Rutgers University Student Assembly. She received the Margery Somers Foster Senior Service Award. Andrea interned for the Carolyn Maloney Campaign as a field organizer. After graduation Andrea plans to attend grad school.

Cheshta Kundra - Gail Pihlblad Wittman Commuter Student Life Award

• Cheshta has been involved in Beehive DOCS, Global Village, and Douglass Welcoming Ambassador as Co-Chairwoman, Ambassador, and dedicated member. She received the Gail Pihlblad Wittman Commuter Student Life Award. Cheshta interned at DCPP and Care Forever Adult Day Care Center. She volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, and local food banks because she wanted to impact the community in meaningful ways. After graduation, Cheshta plans to work at DCPP.

Kimberly Mohabeer - Edele Neilsen Prize in Speech

• Kimberly Mohabeer has been involved in the Mock Trial Association as President, the Women's Pre-Law Society as Co-Founder and Vice President, and Pilot Me mentoring as Vice President. She received the Edele Neilsen Prize in Speech. Kimberly externed at the NYC Supreme Court and Eagleton Institute of Politics through Douglass. After graduation, Kimberly plans to work at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office as a Special Victims Bureau Paralegal before attending Law School.

Nikitah Nyangoro - Pi Mu Epsilon Award in Mathematics

• Nikitah has been involved in the STEM Ambassadors Club and the Rutgers Economics Society as a member. She received the Margaret Zipp Scholarship. Nikitah interned at Bank of America in the Advisor Development Program. She also worked as a Consulting Intern through the Sage Corps Global Internship Program. After graduation, Nikitah has received an offer to work at Bank of America.

Gloria Salas Paucar - Douglass Residential College Inspiration Award

• Gloria has been involved in the Douglass-SAS-DIMACS Computer Science Living-Learning Community and Girls Who Code College Loops organization as a STEM Academic Leader and a Co-President. She received the Douglass Residential College Inspiration Award. Gloria has previously done an externship with Picatinny Arsenal which later she received an internship. Additionally, Gloria interned at Northrop Grumman and Accenture. After graduation, Gloria plans to work full-time as a Consultant at Accenture.

Ameena Qobrtay - Women's and Gender Studies Prize

• Ameena is an Institute for Women's Leadership Scholar and Peer Teacher, the Outreach Coordinator of Muslim Feminists for the Arts, a Lloyd C. Gardner Fellow, and former editor of the Daily Targum. She received the SC&I Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship for JMS Majors Award. She presented on Muslim women resisting stereotypes at the 2021 Gardner conference. Ameena interned at Simon and Schuster, the Institute for Research on Women, and was a research assistant for Naomi Klein. After graduation, Ameena plans to continue writing. 

Sofiia Shvaiko - Richard Morris Prize in Mathematics

• Sofiia has been involved in Rutgers Fencing Club as a competitive sabre fencing. She received the Richard Morris Prize in Mathematics. Sofiia interned at DataArt and participated in Recruitment and Mentoring in Mathematics Program as an undergraduate researcher. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Operations Research.

Hayley Slusser - New Jersey Daily Newspaper Women's Prize in Journalism

• Hayley has been involved with The Daily Targum, most recently as the paper’s editor-in-chief. In addition to the NJ Daily Newspaper Women’s Prize in Journalism, she received the 2022 NJ News Commons Excellence in Local News Award for an investigative report analyzing the University’s pandemic finances. She interned at The Lenfest Institute for Journalism last semester and began working for them full-time after graduating early in January. 

Catherine Stackey - Helen Weissberger Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement and Contribution to the Bunting Program

• Catherine Sackey has been involved in the Beehive Commuter Group Organization (DRC) as a Co-chairwoman, Haitian Association at Rutgers (HARU) as Event Coordinator, and Sophia Club (for non-traditional students) (DRC) Vice-President. She received the 2021 Women’s Empowerment Prize; 2021 Irene Figarotta Pearse Prize for a Bunting Student; 2022 - SAS EOF Outstanding Achievement Award; 2022- SAS EOF Outstanding Academic Achievement Award and belongs to three honor societies. She presented on the following topic of Transfer Student Equity for her undergraduate honors thesis for the Department of Sociology at Rutgers University. Catherine works at HOPES CAP INC. as a Community Program Advocate for Somerset County. After graduation, Catherine plans to enjoy time with her family and apply for grad school.

Ranjita Suresh- Sylvia Blacher Karger Memorial Prize in Nutritional Science

• Ranjita serves Rutgers UNICEF as Community Outreach Officer, and the Honors College Wellness Committee. She received the Rutgers Trustee Scholars Award and Jean Weiss Rothstein Scholarship. She conducts research on genetic factors of lipid metabolism as a G.H. Cook Scholar in Sampath Lab. Ranjita interned at Eating Disorder Treatment Collaborative, helping patients during the pandemic. After graduation, Ranjita will obtain her Master’s in Public Health before attending medical school.

Nirali Trivedi - Jeanne Reimer Mancusi-Ungaro Prize for an Outstanding Senior Entering the Health Professions

• Nirali has been involved in Douglass STEM programs and AED Honors society as a member besides currently serving as the Academic success mentor for Student support services. She received the  Cook/CAES and PTK transfer scholarships. As an IMSD-RISE scholar, she presented her research on the role of SCD-2 in systemic lipid metabolism at the 2021 RISE symposium. She volunteers as a crisis counselor and medical assistant while she plans to attend medical school after graduation.

Nadia Vincent - Frances Lundy Memorial Prize for a Bunting Student

• Nadia is double majoring in Human Resource Management and Health administration and is an inventory specialist for CVS Pharmacy. She made the Dean’s list last semester and is receiving the Frances Lundy Memorial Prize for Bunting Student. Nadia externed at AT&T through the Reilly BOLD program at Douglass Residential College during spring break. After graduation, Nadia plans to work at a Fortune 500 company as a Human Resource Specialist and pursue a master’s degree in Human Resource Management. 

Vaishnavi Vura - Douglass Residential College Challenge Award

• Vaishnavi is a sophomore in the Honors College studying Computer Science. Vaishnavi has been involved in the Honors College Professional Development Council organization as the president, she is also the Director of Communications for Scarlet Council and is the student leader for the IDEA program at Rutgers. She received the Douglass Residential College Challenge Award. She presented on happiness at a TEDx event and her talk is on YouTube! Vaishnavi interned at the Rutgers Food Innovation Center and the University of Pittsburgh Pulomonolgy Department. After graduation, Vaishnavi plans to get her MBA and work at a company she truly loves!

Jane Wang - Roger S. Sweet Award in Chemistry

• Jane likes to participate in tabletop role playing games as both a player and a Game Master. She has also done research in the Chemical Analysis Lab at her high school with her lab partner, Iris Wu, about humic acid coated magnetite nanoparticles and their potential usefulness in phthalein and azo dye adsorption and removal. (You may recognize these as the components of universal pH indicators.)

Hyunji Yu - Phyllis Dunbar Prize

• Hyunji has been involved in Dr. Knapp’s synthetic chemistry group as an undergraduate research assistant. She received Phyllis Dunbar Prize. She presented “Analysis of glycerolipids and comparison between plant-based meat and beef/pork by using ASAP method” at the ISR poster symposium. She is a teaching intern in General Chemistry at Rutgers University. She volunteered at Interfaith-RISE and tutored ESL. After graduation, Hyunji plans to go to grad school.