2002 Massachusetts State College Student Achievers
Carmen Andrade, a senior at Bridgewater State College, will graduate with a major in communication studies and a minor in public relations. She has served a practicum with the Office of Multicultural Affairs and an internship at the Reebok World Headquarters' Public Relations Department. Carmen is an active member of the Sister Scholars and Afro-Am organizations at Bridgewater State. Before transferring to Bridgewater State from Massasoit Community College, she was nominated for the McNair Program and she served for two years as the secretary for the Top of the Rainbow Club. Carmen volunteers for the Bilingual/Multicultural Awareness Day. Her goal is to pursue a Master's Degree in marketing and eventually to work as a spokesperson for a Fortune 500 company.
Viktor Solorzano is a senior at Bridgewater State College with a major in Management and a minor in Human Resources. Victor has been a Dean's List student and is viewed as a leader by his peers. He has participated in the Leadership Institute. He also has been an active participant with the Office of Multicultural Affairs. In addition, he has served as a member of the American Marketing Association (AMA); a member of the Sociedad Latina Association where he is currently the treasurer; and a member of the Student Government Association where he served as a senator and parliamentarian during his sophomore and junior years, respectively. He had the honor of helping to build a home for a low-income family in Tampa, Florida with Habitat for Humanities and of volunteering to assist as a clinician for the Children's Development Clinic. Victor had the opportunity to be linked with a physician-mentor in the field of medicine with whom he discussed medical school strategies. He now plans to pursue a degree in the field of medicine. He also would like to open his own restaurant.
Tonja M. Gunn is a middle school major with a minor in interdisciplinary studies at Fitchburg State College. She has been a Dean's List student. Tonja is a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association. She has participated in various activities related to her major, including Creative Techniques of Teaching through the Stare and Share Program and she has participated in several teachers' conferences. Her community involvement has focused on coaching in the Leominster Pop Warner Spiritleader league and participating in the Stare and Share Residency at the B. F. Brown Arts Vision School. Tonja's academic accomplishments are particularly remarkable in that she is a single mother of three children who works full-time evenings while pursuing her college degree. Her future goals are to work as a middle school educator, eventually developing programs in conflict resolution for adolescents.
Geoffrey Deas is a senior at Massachusetts College of Art. His major is Industrial Design. He has participated in several internship programs designed to develop his skills as an industrial designer. He has been instrumental in securing locally and nationally renowned industrial designers as guest lecturers for several classes. Geoffrey is an active participant in the Massachusetts Art student chapter of the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA). He is supportive of fellow classmates and often volunteers to assist them with various projects. Geoffrey plans to continue his education after college. His ultimate goal is to gain the experience needed to better himself and his community through design.
Jason I. Coburn, a senior at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), has a dual major in Business Administration and Sociology and a minor in music. He has been a demonstrated leader for all student athletes on campus. He has been a member of the men's basket team for four years, the Athletic Department Student-athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), the athletic council, and the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) SAAC. He was one of four MCLA student-athletes nominated to participate in the NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference. In addition, Jason has been involved with student government as a senator and he served as treasurer and secretary on the Multicultural Student Society. For the past one and one-half years Jason has been an outspoken proponent of changing the college's Native American "Mohawk" mascot. He has been an integral part of the Athletic Council's subcommittee reviewing the mascot issue.
Jerry H. Getant is a senior at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA). His major is business administration with a concentration in accounting. He came to MCLA as a TRIO student from Massachusetts Institute of Technology to the Individual Enrichment TRIO program. He has served as treasurer and vice president of the Multicultural Student Society; attended the Hudson Mohawk Alana Conference; played varsity soccer; and he has been a three-time participant in the Student Leadership Conference. Jerry used his skills to enhance his leadership by becoming a Network Coordinator in the Learning Services Individual Enrichment Program and a tutor in the Adult Basic Education program. This past summer he served as an intern at the Washington Center in Washington, D.C. He is currently serving on the Student Government Association at MCLA.
No photo availableFrederick A. Cleare is a 31-year old senior at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He is a six semesters Dean's List student and one semester on the President's List. He is far from being a traditional student. A native of Nassau in the Bahamas where he graduated from the Bahamas Academy, Fredrick opted to work with his father who was an electrician. He earned his electrician's license and, in 1994, moved to Dallas, Texas where he attended college for all of one semester before returning home and marrying his high school sweetheart. He moved with his wife to Andover, MA where she worked as a teacher and he attended UMass-Lowell studying electrical engineering for a year. He could not afford the costs of college, and, therefore in the summer of 1996, he returned home where he found work as a flatbed truck driver for three months. Later he signed on as an OS aboard the "Freeport Feeder," a 225 foot self-propelled barge. He was soon promoted to Bosun's Mate and given more responsibility. He was encouraged by his captain to consider maritime colleges. In September 2001, the Admiral's Cup was awarded to Fredrick, his staff, and their flock of newly minted Cadet Candidates. His goal after graduation is to obtain his Unlimited Master's License. He also plans on eventually buying a self-propelled barge.
Batriah Cunningham, a senior at Salem State College, is majoring in General Studies with a concentration in Adolescent and Family Social Services. She has been on the Dean's List three semesters. She held several internships including working at the North Shore Community Action Program assisting low income families receive fuel assistance; teaching elementary and middle school students English and Social Studies and English and History, respectively. She participated in the 2000 Sankofa Retreat sponsored by the Haitian African Caribbean Organization. Batriah is a member of the Morning Star Baptist Church in Boston. Her goal is to work within the adolescent and family social services field. She is a single mother who believes that she can make a significant difference by improving after school care for adolescents. Batriah plans to pursue a Master's degree in African American Studies.
Nixon Cleophat is a senior at Salem State College with a major in English and a minor in Education and Mathematics.  He has received various academic awards and scholarships including the America's National Dean's List, Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society, Honor's Program Scholar, Tomorrow Teacher's Scholarship and the Bowditch Hall Outstanding Scholar Award. He has had an active college career – serving as vice president of the Future Educators of America, vice president of the Bates Board of Governors, the co-director of the African American Gospel Chorus, treasurer of the Multicultural Student Association and the Student Government Association sophomore senator. Additionally, he served as a peer leader in the Alternative to Individual Development program and as a math tutor in the Learning Center at Salem State College. Nixon is also active in his church where he has served as the chairman of the Free Pentecostal Church of God Youth Choir and secretary of the Haitian Mass. Choir. His immediate plans are to become a math teacher and eventually pursue a Master's degree in theology and a Ph.D. degree in Education Administration.
Andrew C. Marshall is a senior at Westfield State College who has a dual major in Elementary Education and Liberal Studies. Andrew has shown strong leadership throughout his college career. He served as a member of the Third World Organization during his freshman year and in 2000 he established the Future Teachers of Color Organization at Westfield State College. Andrew is a Dean's List student who was recognized by Westfield State College Education Department for his academic excellence at the spring 2001 "Fourth Annual Students of Color Recognition Banquet. He is currently a nominee for the 2001-2002 Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and he also was selected as a member of the Kappa Delta Pi (the National Education Honor Society). Andrew serves as a youth mentor in after school programs in the Westfield elementary schools; a chaperone for middle school dances at the Boys and Girls Club in Westfield; and a tutor for the Student Support Services Program and the Mathematics Department at Westfield. Andrew also assists the Director of Minority Affairs/Urban Education program with recruitment efforts. His goal is a career in teaching, specifically fourth grade, and to pursue a Master's Degree.
Margarete Y. Serrano is a senior at Westfield State with a dual major in Psychology and Criminal Justice. She has been an intern caseworker at Spectra Management Services working with adult ex-offenders re-entering the community and a counselor and mentor at the N.E.A.R.I. School working with students with behavioral problems. Margarete has also taught in the Clean Slate Program and worked with the Stop Lift Program, both sponsored by the Springfield Police Youth Assessment Center and the Joseph Budd Youth Assessment Center. Her role with these programs has been to coordinate and instruct classes on substance abuse, anger management, decision making, goal setting, conflict resolution, peer pressure and self-esteem. On campus, Margarete served as a peer counselor for students participating in the summer 2001 Urban Education "Bridge" program. She is a member of the Female Ad Hoc Committee for Men Against Rape & Sexual Assault (MARASA); a member of the Latino Association for Empowerment Organization (LAFE); an operations aide and student supervisor for the college's Ely Campus Center; and current president of the Third World organization. She plans to become a juvenile probation officer while pursuing Master's and Doctoral degrees.

 

Last Modified: June 24, 2009