Spring 2021 Latin honors awardees Kim through Muschinski

Hello! My name is Jasey Joohi Kim and I am graduating Summa Cum Laude after majoring in both Spanish for the Professions at the Arts and Science College and Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance at the Leeds School of Business.  After my time at this university, I have found my passion working in the world of Sport and completed my honors thesis investigating the NFL's communicative situation in Spanish. I hope to continue to work in sports and one day combine my interest for international sports business and finance into career. Thank you to all the people I have met here and the incredible memories and experiences I will never forget!

Hello! My name is Mia Kim. I am graduating with a BA in Biochemistry from CU Boulder. I was a Teaching Assistant (TA) for General Biology and became a Learning Assistant (LA) for Principles of Genetics. I am a member of the lab in the Department of Biochemistry, mentored by Dr. Robert Batey. I also work at another lab in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, mentored by Dr. Nancy Emery. I defended my Honor Thesis for the Batey lab. It was a great experience working in these two labs throughout my college career, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me! Thank you to everyone who has supported me to get to where I am today. It was a pleasure working with such incredible and encouraging people. Thank you!!

I am extremely excited to be graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor's in Neuroscience, as well as a Bachelor's in Psychology. Throughout my four years at CU, I've been a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, CU's pre-health honor fraternity, for two years, serving as the vice president this year, and currently serve as the president for CU's Global Medical Brigades chapter; with which I traveled to Panama in 2019 to volunteer and work with under-served communities. I have participated in behavioral neuroscience research for nearly three years in Michael Saddoris's addiction lab, in which I wrote and defended my honors thesis this semester. After a year or two of working and traveling, I plan to pursue a career in medicine, most likely in pediatrics.

Trevor is graduating magna cum laude with a BA in History and a BA in Geography, along with emphases in GIS and Hydrology.  During his time at CU, he volunteered as a Student Ambassador, devoted to highlighting the best that the university has to offer, and was a member of the CU Hiking Club.  He also interned at the USGS, working to modernize government cartographic and locational data for the twenty-first century.  Following graduation, Trevor plans to join Trimble Inc. developing new products and features for geospatial applications.  He hopes to eventually return to academia to pursue a graduate degree in Geography and further cultivate his passion for the field of remote sensing, and is excited to begin his next chapter of life!

I will be graduating with magna cum laude in Women & Gender Studies and Strategic Communication with a certificate in LGBTQ+ Studies. Throughout my time at CU I have developed a passion for data-driven marketing strategy, a strong sense of curiosity, and a goal to bring an intersectional and inclusive perspective to the marketing world. I work to recognize my privilege and amplify other's voices. I strive to pair my data and analytical perspective with my intersectional understanding of the world to find strategic solutions that support and inspire business growth.

I am graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor Degree in Economics and International Affairs with an emphasis in International Economics and a minor in Political Science. I have a love for statistics and an interest for Environmental Economics and I never knew I would be sitting here today when I travelled across the Atlantic four years ago. I want to use the knowledge and the skills I have acquired throughout my college career to work in sustainability and help fight climate change. I want to thank my family for the unconditional love and support I have received even from the other side of the world and I want to thank CU Boulder for the most amazing and rewarding four years I will have. Thank you to my friends who have become family and sko buffs!

Hannah is graduating summa cum laude in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology with a certificate in Public Health. During her time at CU she did research in the Niswander lab on neural tube development and folic acid and was involved with the CU chapter of GlobeMed. She was also in the BSI and Norlin Scholars programs. After graduation she will be applying to medical school and working and traveling in the near future.

Naresh is graduating with a BA in International Affairs and Economics. Studying in Boulder was complemented with time in Buenos Aires and Santiago. While the next chapter is still being figured out, I will always look back on my time as a student in Arts and Sciences fondly.

I am graduating summa cum laude with a BA in International Affairs. During my time at CU I played intramural sports, joined some clubs, studied abroad in Southern France, and wrote my thesis on media portrayals of Muslim soccer players in France. I loved being close to the mountains in beautiful Boulder, biking to campus in all weather, taking interesting classes, and, in my free time, writing a YA novel. I plan to pursue a PhD in International Affairs and, hopefully, get my novel published!

Alex is graduating summa cum laude in History and Psychology with a minor in Business with the ultimate intention of going to law school. Her biggest accomplishments in her undergraduate career were writing her honors thesis discussing the impact of race on gun policy, interning in D.C. under Congressman Crow, and becoming President of CU's Relay for Life Club.

I am graduating summa cum laude with a BA in Art History and a BA in Chemistry. During my time at CU, I was an active member of (B)Chem Club and studied abroad in Italy during the summer of 2019. I have also enjoyed my time as an intern at Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art this spring. After graduating from CU, I will continue my education by pursuing a Masters degree in Historic Preservation.

Kyo is graduating summa cum laude with a BA in Neuroscience and Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCDB). Formally being a paralegal major, he confirmed his passion for scientific research after taking his first course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) class in MCDB, where he met his current PI, Dr. Christopher A. Lowry. Kyo was able to conduct his own research project through the assistance of the Biological Sciences Initiative Scholars Program and the Sigma Xi Grant in Aid of Research Program. Having found his niche in the field of psychoneuroimmunology, Kyo hopes to continue his research and graduate studies in Dr. Lowry's Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Lab.

Sydney Rae Lewark is graduating Suma cum laude with a BA in Environmental Studies and a minor in Dance. She completed her first two years at Hawai’i Pacific University where she participated in the National Model United Nations, founded the Environmental Film and Photography club, and developed a passion for ecology. While studying comparative ecology and conservation in Ecuador she focused on spider biodiversity. After transferring to the University of Colorado Boulder in January of 2020 she completed an honors project that combined her backgrounds in ecology, film making, and dance to create a film called The Life of Water. She plans to continue making ecological film and work as a wilderness guide before pursuing a PhD in entomology.

Amanda is graduating summa cum laude with a BA in Economics, as well as a BA in Mathematics. In her time at CU, Amanda enjoyed working as a Resident Advisor for two years in both Smith Hall and Williams Village North. During her past four years in college, Amanda has embraced authenticity and curiosity as a Norlin Scholar and plans to pursue an MA in Economics post-graduation.

Hi, my name is Molly, and I am graduating magna cum laude with a BA in Sociology, as well as a BS in Business Administration. With a focus sustainability and social innovation, I hope to advance the growing body of knowledge regarding socially responsible leadership and using business as a vehicle for positive impact on society. Beyond my academic work, I am a consultant for the United Nations Global Compact, coach a local baton twirling team, love spending time in the mountains, and will jump at any opportunity to travel.

Thomas Magnuson earned his Bachelors in Mathematics and will be pursuing his PhD in Mathematics at the University of Wyoming.

Amy Malacalza is graduating summa cum laude with a BA in Integrative Physiology and Minor in Dance. She worked in Dr. Roger Enoka's Neurophysiology of Human Movement Laboratory where she assisted Dr. Leah Davis. She combined both of her passions of dance and science in her Honors Thesis which focused on medial gastrocnemius activity during single-leg balance in dancers. At CU, she was the Co-President of the Colorado Homeless Assistance with Medicine Program and a mentor in the Mentor Collective Program. After graduating, she plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in pediatrics.

I am graduating with a BA in geology. I had the wonderful privilege to work in both the Templeton Geomicrobiology lab and the Sepulveda Organic Geochemistry lab for almost three years. After graduation I will participate in the Department of Energy's SULI internship at the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden.

Renae Marshall is graduating summa cum laude with a BA in Environmental Studies. She started her undergraduate career at Loyola University Chicago and toured part time with a professional Irish Dance company for two years. Upon transferring to CU, she worked at EPA Region 8 and the Boulder County Resource Conservation Division. She was the 2020 Wickholm Scholarship winner and won a UROP grant to conduct Honors thesis research in Summer 2020. Under the advisement of Dr. Matt Burgess within the Bioeconomics lab, she wrote and defended her thesis on state level bipartisan climate solutions. After graduation she will pursue energy policy and polarization research as a fully funded PhD student at the Bren School of Environmental Management at UCSB.

I am graduating Cum Laude with a BA in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology with a certificate in public health. My research work was a collaboration between two labs in the Integrative Physiology and Mechanical Engineering departments exploring the stress of spaceflight and how it impacts the liver. After graduation I will be pursuing a master's degree in public health at the University of Washington starting in the Fall of 2021.

Anastasia Mathews is graduating summa cum laude with a BA in Cinema Studies and Moving Image Arts and a minor in Italian Studies. During her time at CU Boulder she was a member of the Distinguished Speakers Board, a projectionist for the International Film Series, and a Boettcher Scholar. After graduation, she will return to CU Boulder to complete her MA degree. Anastasia has most enjoyed the friends, faculty, and mentors that she has met at CU and looks forward to working with them again in the fall.

Riley McKibbon is graduating magna cum laude with a BA in Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences. She grew up in Colorado and always knew she wanted to work with children. The highlight of her undergraduate career was developing and defending her honors thesis while gaining knowledge on best practice and research from her mentor, Dr. Christina Meyers. Riley is looking forward to attending CU Boulder for graduate school, where she will pursue a Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology and continue her work in research.

Mika is graduating summa cum laude with a BA in English Literature and a double minor in Mathematics and Space. While at CU, she was the secretary of the Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society and worked for the Office of Academic Innovation, helping professors create online master’s courses. She worked with Dr. Simonetta to develop a textbook for the course Literary Studies with Data Science, and interned with CU’s ASSETT team to build an Interdisciplinary Data Science for All course which will launch in Fall 2021. After graduation, Mika is getting married, and plans to start a career as a technical writer. She also intends to continue writing code to study literature and to one day publish her findings in this field.

Cameron is graduating summa cum laude with a BA in integrative physiology and a certificate in public health. During her time at CU Boulder, she worked in the Sleep and Chronobiology Lab under Dr. Wright's mentorship. Her thesis focused on comparing sleep and circadian disruption to alcohol intoxication during happy hour. Cameron was also a Biological Sciences Initiative (BSI) Scholar and went on to become BSI Scholar Ambassador, helping other students get involved in research. Outside of research, some of her favorite moments were spent with the CU Caving Club. After graduation, she plans to work as an EMT and apply to medical school.

I am graduating summa cum laude with a BA in MCDB, a BA in Neuroscience, and a minor in Business. During my time at CU I was able to be involved with my sorority and awarded a UROP grant to fund my research. I joined the Pearson Lab at Anschutz Medical Campus, where I completed 3 years of research. After graduation, I plan to attend medical school to one day be a physician. I am grateful for all of the professors and opportunities CU has provided me with, and look forward to the next chapter of my life.

I am graduating magna cum laude with BA in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and with a BA in Biochemistry and Mathematics. Throughout my undergraduate experience, I was a member of Dr. Pamela Harvey's lab as well as participate in club soccer and the chemistry club. I will eventually be pursuing a doctorate in either biochemistry or molecular biology.

Grant is graduating summa cum laude in biochemistry and Spanish. He spent his time at CU getting involved in student organizations (AED - the prehealth honors society, CUEMS - the volunteer EMT club, etc.), studying abroad in China on two Summer Mandarin scholarships, conducting research in both of his fields, working as an LA and RA, staffing a food bank, volunteering as a contact tracer during the pandemic, and interning as the HIV/HCV prevention intern at Boulder County AIDS Project. Grant is an avid pianist, reader, and mountaineer, and especially enjoys sharing good food with close friends. He is passionate about medicine as a tool to address social justice issues and plans to pursue an MPH and MD, before working in global public health.

I am graduating with a BA in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and for my honors thesis I was able to work with the wonderful people in Dr. Sepúlveda's Organic Geochemistry Lab. My research centered on unique Madagascan fossil beds of dinosaurs, crocodiles, and mammals from the Late Cretaceous. By using lipid biomarkers, paleobiology, microbial ecology, and modern wildlife biology, we're able to (tentatively) support the hypothesis that algal blooms during seasonal droughts may have been the cause of the mass deaths. This Fall I'll be starting my PhD at the University of California, Davis studying early animal evolution.

I'm graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor of science in engineering physics and a minor in computer science. I've worked with the Pappas group at NIST for 2 years on quantum computing research, specifically superconducting microwave resonators. My honors thesis is titled "Highly Accurate Data Fitting for Microwave Resonators". I now plan to obtain my PhD in physics for low energy loss electronic devices.

I am proud to be graduating summa cum laude with a BA in Psychology, a double major in Ecological and Evolutionary Biology, and a certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies. During my time at CU, I enjoyed opportunities including serving as a learning assistant in several classes and an internship with the CU Restorative Justice program. I am especially grateful for my time as a research assistant in the PEP lab and writing a thesis with mentor Dr. Gruber on the impacts of the pandemic on bipolar disorder and emotion regulation. After graduation, I will be pursuing a PsyD in school psychology at CU Denver. Thank you to all the wonderful people at CU for the support and smiles along the way!

Lisa Muschinski is graduating summa cum laude with a B.A. in psychology. Throughout her three years in the psychology department as an undergraduate, she has realized her hopes to become a therapist or do other work in this field. She has a passion for creative writing and was recently awarded first place in the Undergraduate Memoir category of the Twenty-Second Annual Thompson Awards for Western American Writing. Although unsure what the future will bring, Lisa is confident that she will find passion and enthusiasm in her work, hobbies, and relationships.