2009 Massachusetts State College Student Achievers

Aslin C. Alvarez-Toro is a political science major and English minor at Bridgewater State College. She is the president of the Pre-Law Association and her accomplishments include dean's list for two semesters, an internship at the Plymouth County's District Attorney's Office Domestic Violence Unit, a study-abroad trip to France and the 2008 Student Leadership Award for Excellence in Organization Leadership. After graduation, Aslin plans to attend law school to study corporate or tax law.

Arielis De La Rosa is a double major of communication studies and sociology at Bridgewater State College. Among her many accomplishments, she is a member of the Student Leadership Council, president of La Sociedad Latina and a volunteer at alcohol and substance abuse programs. She has been named to the dean's list each semester since 2006. After graduation, Arielis plans to pursue a career in either sociology or communications and then pursue a master's degree in journalism.

Ashley M. Giemza is a social work major with a minor in psychology at Bridgewater State College. Her many accomplishments include interning at the Brockton Day Nursery, Department of Mental Health in Taunton and The Castle (a detoxification unit for adolescents). She also studied abroad in Ireland. After graduation, Ashley plans to pursue a Master of Social Work degree or join the Peace Corps and then complete her advanced degree.

Whitney A. Knight is a management major at Bridgewater State College. She has been named to the dean's list for four semesters and has tutored younger students and fellow classmates in various subjects. Whitney uses her leadership skills at her full-time job, and actively participates in her church and community. After graduation, she plans to pursue a management position in the human resource field, preferably in the hospitality industry, and then pursue an MBA.

Tikola Russell is an English major at Bridgewater State College. She received the Kathleen Buckley '94 Memorial Scholarship in 2008 and is a member of the National Residence Hall Honorary. Tikola has coordinated numerous community volunteer and fundraising projects, and plans to travel to Belize to volunteer at a local school. After graduation, she plans to pursue a master's degree in higher education leadership and administration, focusing on student affairs.

Malcolm Shanks III is a social work major at Bridgewater State College. His accomplishments include assisting in the opening of three community youth centers, serving on the board of the American Red Cross and volunteering for National Night Out Against Crime. He is director of resident services for The Beacon Communities. After graduation, Malcolm wants to pursue a Masters of Social Work degree at Bridgewater State College and continue working in the community.

Jose Soto is a communications studies major at Bridgewater State College who has been named to the dean's list for four semesters. He was a volunteer for President Barack Obama's campaign and has provided two years of service to the Dedham Food Pantry, teaches computer literacy at a local nursing home and works with Alzheimer's patients as an activities assistant. After graduation, Jose plans to pursue a career in advertising and copywriting.

Carissa J. Souza is a criminal justice major at Bridgewater State College. Her many accomplishments include participating in the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center (MARC) program, mentoring and instructing high school students, and volunteering to work with elderly patients. After graduation, Carissa plans to become a registered nurse and begin a career in forensics where she hopes to use her criminal justice degree. She plans to pursue a master's degree in criminal justice.

Stephen Hamilton is an honor student majoring in Illustration at Massachusetts College of Art & Design. He is involved in the Teacher for Art A La Carte program, which provides free art classes for Boston Public School students. His illustrations have been exhibited in the MassArt galleries and the Roxbury open studios exhibition at MassArt. Stephen's illustrations have been showcased around Boston at places such as the Piano Factory Gallery and the Dot 2 Dot Café.

Danielle Durand majors in English/communications with a concentration in film at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. On the dean's list every semester, she is a member of the honors program and the Lambda Iota Tau International Honor Society for Students of Literature. She received an award for Excellence in Experimental Filmmaking, is a Student Ambassador in Admissions and a role model for all students.

Raul Escobar is a business major with a concentration in accounting Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. A strong student leader, he has been named to the dean's list, received multiple ALANA academic excellence awards and represented MCLA at a Congressional Breakfast for Higher Education Financing. He has been captain of MCLA's men's soccer team for two years and was named to the MASCAC All-American Academic Team and First Team All-MASCAC.

Cassandra Pierre majors in English/communications at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. She earned the MCLA Margaret Hart Scholarship, received many ALANA Academic Excellence awards and has been named to the dean's list. Cassandra is a writer for the college newspaper and held multiple positions within the Student Government Association. She is on the NEXXUS Step Team and a member of the MCLA Diversity Task Force.

Natacha Bernard, a talented and gifted individual, is a senior majoring in criminal justice at Salem State College. On campus, she holds a leadership position within the Criminal Justice Academy and off campus serves as a board member for the YWCA in Malden.

Sammy Kimani is one of Salem State College's most outstanding and hardworking students. He is a senior majoring in nursing with an overall grade point average of 3.9. Sammy is a member of the Sigma Theta Tao, an honors society for nursing majors, and is actively involved in the International Students Association.

Dionisia O. Lopez is a senior majoring in psychology at Westfield State College. She was awarded the 2007 Massachusetts Women in Public Higher Education Scholarship and inducted into the Lambda Sigma Honor Society. Dionisia served as a WSC-UEP Summer Bridge program peer counselor, assistant treasurer for the Third World Organization and was an active member of Latino Association for Empowerment. She continues to exercise strong student leadership in the English department and has served as a UEP Tour Guide for prospective students and their parents.

Grace M. Rivera, a McNair Scholar, is a senior majoring in criminal justice at Westfield State College. Leadership roles have included: WSC-UEP peer counselor and mentor, SSSP teaching assistant, peer advisor for the Academic Advising Center and resident assistant for Residential Life. A former member of the Third World Organization and Latino Association for Empowerment, Grace has served as a peer educator for the Alcohol Choices Education program, participated in the So-Seductive Step Team and earned dean's list recognition for six semesters. Grace is participating in the Washington Center Internship Program and was awarded the first Urban Education/Joan E. Fuller Scholarship.

Breyana A. Roman, a communications major at Westfield State College, is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and has received dean's list recognition every semester. Leadership roles include: member of the WSC-Urban Education Gospel Choir, UEP peer counselor, UEP recruitment mentor/leader, SSSP peer tutor and student supervisor, president of Latino Association for Empowerment and member of the So Seductive Step Team. Breyana, a senior, was awarded the first Urban Education Program/Joan E. Fuller Scholarship and was selected to receive the President's Award for Excellence in Leadership.

Monique L. Tait is a senior at Westfield State College majoring in computer science. She has served as a technician for the college's Information Technology Department and participated in the STEM Scholar Summer Program of Undergraduate Research at University of Massachusetts Amherst. As part of her internship, she worked in the PRISM lab as a researcher for the DieselNet project. As secretary for the Third World Organization, Monique assisted in the coordination of the Unity Fest, the CCGS Unity Fair and the West Indian Festival. She is a member of the WSC-Urban Education Gospel Choir.

Jovaney R. Toledo is senior majoring in business management at Westfield State College, where he has served as an Urban Education Program peer counselor, a SSSP peer tutor and a teacher's assistant for a variety of UEP summer courses. He has been a RISE mentor for first-year students and last spring, he volunteered time to serve the Springfield community by assisting in "Kids Day in Springfield." A member of the New North Citizens Council Aids Teen Team, Jovaney has been a member of both indoor and outdoor track teams where he earned all-conference honors.

Prosper Kemeh, an accounting major at Worcester State College, has been named to the dean's list for four semesters. He is a member of the Business Club and Business Honor Society, and vice president of Community of Ewe Associations of North America, (CEANA) Worcester Chapter, which provides support services to individuals from Ghana living the United States.

Donatha Letang is a natural science-pre-pharmacy major with a minor in history at Worcester State College. She has been a Mentor of Children with Incarcerated Mothers, completed the Dale Carnegie Leadership Course and been a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. She is a Francis Quimet Scholar and a member of Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society. A dean's list student, she has completed a study abroad program in Paris.

Lucy W. Muigai is pursuing a second degree at Worcester State College in its nursing program. She is a CNA instructor at Fieldstone School in Worcester and works in an area nursing home. A mentor for freshmen and juniors at local colleges, she performed an internship at Community Health Link in Worcester. She has a master's degree from Assumption College in clinical psychology.

Grace Ngugi is a psychology major at Worcester State College. She is on the dean's list and is a lifelong member of Psi Chi, the honor society of psychology. She has done research on a variety of subjects such as road rage in the United States, environmental justice, and race and the politics of welfare reform.

Luberlandia O'Connor is a community health major at Worcester State College where she has been named to the dean's list for several semesters. A program coordinator for the Stress of Immigration Support Group the past two years, she supports the clinician in organizing his appointments. In addition to helping the Student Advisory Council with projects, she provides translator services for immigrant students and assists students in job searches.

Juanitta Quist, who is majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry at Worcester State College, has been named to the dean's list for six semesters. She is a member of four national honor societies for freshmen, biology, chemistry and leadership, and is president of Tri Beta National Biology Honor Society. She is the treasurer for the Class of 2009 and was an orientation leader/mentor for incoming freshmen. She has been a volunteer at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester.

Miriam Rivera is a student at Worcester State College majoring in Spanish with a minor in urban studies. She is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and has been named to the dean's list in her junior and senior years. Miriam is a recipient of the Quinsigamond Community College Women of Distinction Award and the United Way of Central Massachusetts Volunteer Award for her numerous contributions to organizations in Worcester such as Friendly House and Centro Las Americas.

Aderonke Telufusi is majoring in biotechnology at Worcester State College. The dean's list student has participated in honors, research and study abroad programs and has completed an internship at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Core Laboratory. She has been involved with the college's Chemistry Club and was a McNair Fellow at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Last Modified: September 22, 2009