2:00 a.m., May 28, 2003--Family and friends watched proudly as 222 students of Hispanic heritage were recognized for their academic achievements at the Latino/Latina Students of Distinction ceremony on Honors Day, Friday, May 10.

The Student of Distinction designation requires a 3.0 or higher grade point average for the spring and fall semesters preceding the award.

América Martínez, assistant professor of foreign languages and literatures, gave the keynote address. She praised the students for their scholastic prowess and told them that such individual accomplishments equal success.

“Success isn’t accomplishing the dreams of your childhood or someone else’s dreams; it’s feeling proud of what you’ve done each time you know you have done your best.” Martínez told them to take pride in their everyday achievements as they work toward their long-term goals.

“I wanted to be a doctor. But, one day in chemistry class, I cut my finger. After I cleaned it, I sat down to bandage it and saw the blood dripping from my finger, and I fainted dead away,” Martínez said. “That’s when I realized medicine was not in the cards.

“My goal changed, but not my sense of accomplishment,” she said. “Accomplishments give you self-esteem, a feeling that you can handle whatever comes along with equanimity.”

Latino/Latina Students of Distinction are listed by department and college below.

College of Agricultural Sciences
Crystal Aguilera, Animal Science
Jessica Cabrera, Animal Science
Tiffany Carro, Animal Science
Irka Rivera, Animal Science
Jessica Rodriguez, Animal Science
Michael Vassallo, Engineering Technology
Maia Tatinclaux, Natural Resource Management
Joshua Hubner, Plant Biology
Fernando Gisone, Wildlife Conservation

College of Arts And Science
Marisa Alvelo, undeclared
Lisa Amendo, undeclared
Andre Carabello, undeclared
Melody Casagrande, undeclared
David Egosi, undeclared
Emily Feldman, undeclared
Ray Louis Garcia, undeclared
Barry Peter Garozzo, undeclared
Katherine Gonzales, undeclared
Delilah Guzman, undeclared
Linda Komatsubara, undeclared
Holly McDonald, undeclared
Christian Moreno, undeclared
Danielle Nieves, undeclared
Stefanie Ortiz, undeclared
Amanda Salazar, undeclared
Star Schultz, Art
Chelsea Villegas, Art
Christopher Cangelosi, Biological Sciences
Andrew Farach, Biological Sciences
Lauren Feld, Biological Sciences
Jennifer Garzia, Biological Sciences
Gabrielle Guzman, Biological Sciences
Kimberly Herrera, Biological Sciences
Jessica Holzer, Biological Sciences
Joseph Leiva, Biological Sciences
Isaac Levinsky, Biological Sciences
Asif Mohammed, Biological Sciences
Yasmine Noorali, Biological Sciences
Christine Kosman, Biochemistry
Sarah Redding, Biochemistry
Paul Shall, Biochemistry
Sarah D’Angelo, Communication
Leah DaPonte, Communication
Andrea Ferrara, Communication
Lauren Flannery, Communication
Jennifer Ann Garcia, Communication
Candance McPherson, Communication
Samara Passo, Communication
Giovanna Romano, Communication
Jill Spalding, Communication
Jennifer Weinstein, Communication
Linda Estevez, Communication Interest
Andrea Ferrara, Communication Interest
Rachel Herrera, Communication Interest
Marilisas Mendoza, Communication Interest
Andreas Papson, Communication Interest
Jessica Marie Resto, Communication Interest
James Cardona, Computer & Information Systems
Benjamin Gutierrez, Computer & Information Systems
Luis Mendes, Computer & Information Systems
Allison Capo, Criminal Justice
Christopher Massari, Criminal Justice
Gustavo Panchame, Criminal Justice
Michael Smith, Criminal Justice
Elliot Joel Rivera, Earth Science Education
Christina Hernandez, English
Joseph Jacobs, English
Tara McCarthy, English
Tracy C. Ortiz, English
Amy Eluto, English Education
Jessica Lukecart, English Education
Francine Narcisco, English Education
Edward Ruiz, English Education
Mark Ruiz, Fine Arts
Jamie E. Barrios, Foreign Languages & Literatures
Elizabeth Billings, Foreign Languages & Literatures
Andres Decos, Foreign Languages & Literatures
Alan Miguel Duprez, Foreign Languages & Literatures
Magdalena Hill, Foreign Languages & Literatures
Laura Ann McDonald, Foreign Languages & Literatures
Jaclyn Pilette, Foreign Languages & Literatures
Brenda Salem, Foreign Languages & Literatures
Angela Velez, Foreign Languages & Literatures
Marisa Thompson, Geography
Erik Mancini, History & Foreign Languages
Jonathan Garbar, History
Michael Gary Cruz, History Education
Alicia Lera, History Education
Chad Whitehead, History Education
Michelle Bovich, International Relations
Juana Camacho, International Relations
Julissa Guttierrez, International Relations
Angeline Montoya, International Relations
Michell Rodenheiser, International Relations
Mila Solanet, International Relations
Donald Wulbrecht, International Relations
Omaira Andersen, Latin American Studies
Jeffrey Ruiz, Liberal Studies
Julia McLean, Math Education
Krista Velez, Music Education, /Instrumental
Triana Collins, Music Education/Instrumental
Leonardo Santa, Music/ Piano
Juan Colon, Political Science
Amy Cruz, Political Science
Simone Delerme, Political Science
Kenny Minaya, Political Science
Anna, Kristie Morffi, Political Science
Rachel Rizzo, Political Science
Barbara Vaccaro, Political Science
Julie Velasquez, Political Science
Nadia Abdelkhalek, Psychology
Elise Feldman, Psychology
Sonia Fernandez, Psychology
Jessica Galeas, Psychology
Sabrina Glaser, Psychology
Robert Justiniano, Psychology
Michelle Koenigbauer, Psychology
Jasmine Molina, Psychology
Cynthia Roberta, Psychology
Marisa Sotolongo, Psychology
Danielle Stein, Psychology
Barbara Vilches-Cruz, Psychology
Mattie Blyth Wilson, Psychology
Rachel Anne Rivas, Sociology
Alma Rodriguez, Sociology
Christina Infiesta, Spanish Education
Kristen Pedroso, Spanish Education
Ashley Rizzo, Spanish Education
Daikiri Villa, Spanish Education
Sara Lynn Gilmore, Theatre Production
Daniela Montanez, Visual Communication

Lerner College of Business and Economics
Reynaldo Blanco, Accounting
Laura Bueno, Accounting
Jacqueline Dapolito, Accounting
Michael Garcia, Accounting
Matthew Hutchison, Accounting
Brian Lopez, Accounting
Alejandro Mandelbaum, Accounting
Israel Mercado Ramos, Accounting
Thomas Ramirez, Accounting
Erika Cartagena, Business Administration
Richard Cintron, Business Administration
Jonathan Dieguez, Business Administration
Jonathan Hobfoll, Business Administration
Alejandro Mandelbaum, Business Administration
Jonathan Petrucci, Business Administration
Eric Pradas, Business Administration
Lesley Rosario, Business Administration
Patricia Cordes, Economics
Santino Ceccotti, Finance
Justin Colon, Finance
Rachel Cruz, Finance
Fernando Good, Finance
Wenddy Haro, Finance
Christina Carbone, Marketing
Justin Garcia, Marketing
Min Jung Kim, Marketing
Lara Miller, Marketing
Wagner Ramirez, Management

College of Engineering
Michael Alexitch, Chemical Engineering
Ryan Altenbaugh, Chemical Engineering
John Bishop, Chemical Engineering
Luz Caro, Chemical Engineering
Michael Chajon, Chemical Engineering
Patricia Braun, Civil Engineering
Tatyana Cruz, Civil Engineering
Joseph Leiva, Civil Engineering
Elvin Rosa, Civil Engineering
Donato Settanni, Civil Engineering
Vincent Emmanuele, Electrical Engineering
Sharon Huertas, Electrical Engineering
Virginia Mendoza, Environmental Engineering
Kirstin Huesmann, Mechanical Engineering
Paul Rodriguez, Mechanical Engineering
Richard Slack, Mechanical Engineering

College of Health and Nursing Sciences
Justin Mills, Applied Nutrition
Laura Bishop, Dietetics
Erica Rodrigues, Dietetics
Riad Arafat, Exercise & Sports Science
Christine Licata, Exercise & Sports Science
Allison Miller, Exercise & Sports Science
Alexandra Terrana, Health Behavior Management
Alcides Cummins, Health & Physical Education
Nicolette Pagan, Health & Physical Education
Andrea Vargas, Health & Physical Education
Cristina Alos, Medical Technology Interest
Rorie Madigan, Medical Technology Interest
Nancy Abreu, Nursing (RN required)
Gustavo Gonzales, Nursing (RN required)
Marisol Ruiz-Miranda, Nursing (RN required)
Nilda Silberstang, Nursing (RN required)
Laura Gomez, Nursing
Jessica Harris, Nursing
Monique Latorre, Nursing
Dru Velasco, Nursing
Melanie Zahn, Nursing

College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy
Marcie Quintana, Apparel Design
Barbara Vilches-Cruz, Apparel Design
Vanessa Pavon, Early Childhood Development/Education
Ashley Ricart, Early Childhood Development/Education
Alyssa Anajovich, Elementary Teacher Education
Katie Bejarano, Elementary Teacher Education
Victoria Bonfante, Elementary Teacher Education
Brook Castillo, Elementary Teacher Education
Christina Cuizon, Elementary Teacher Education
Fatima Esteves, Elementary Teacher Education
Elena Gagnier, Elementary Teacher Education
Michelle Gonzalez, Elementary Teacher Education
Elizabeth Guevara, Elementary Teacher Education
Maria Hernandez, Elementary Teacher Education
Maria Jaume, Elementary Teacher Education
Marissa Melendez, Elementary Teacher Education
Andrea Rubalcaba, Elementary Teacher Education
Vanessa Villegas, Elementary Teacher Education
Jennifer Weisbecker, Elementary Teacher Education
Michelle Carrua, Family and Community Services
Carolina Galindo, Family and Community Services
Danielle Larason, Family and Community Services
Gloria Perez, Family and Community Services
Sarah Ruiz, Family and Community Services
Kara Todd, Family and Community Services
Nicole Nunez, Fashion Merchandising
Marissa Sala, Fashion Merchandising
Kimberly Austin, Human Services, Education and Public Policy
Hedy Iankelevich, Interdisciplinary Studies

Article by Barbara Garrison
Photos by Duane Perry