Cultual Celebration: Lavender
Courtney Metz
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing: Fiction
Taylor Welsh
Bachelor of Arts: Justice, Community, and Leadership: General & Sociology
Honors
Summa Cum Laude
bell hooks
Jane Addams
Jane Addams
Hometown
Walnut Creek, CaliforniaAward Bio
Taylor Welsh is a Sociology and Justice, Community, Leadership double major. Taylor views her time at Saint Mary's as a unique opportunity to cultivate her understanding of praxis-based approaches to social change. As a result, she has concentrated primarily on criminal justice reform in her sociological research. At Saint Mary’s, she co-founded the SMC Sustainability Blog as a Sustainability intern, which provided her with the opportunity to attend Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership Conference; worked on the 4+1 Master's in Leadership Committee; and was inducted into the Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society. Additionally, Taylor serves as vice president of the Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honor Society and is a Guyette Leadership Fellow. Upon graduating, Taylor hopes to pursue a career in the nonprofit industry to work in animal welfare and species conservation.
My Greatest Supporters
My mom, who has always helped me through the ups and downs in life and has been my role model. My dad, who has inspired me to persevere through hardships. My partner, Izzy Diaz, who supports me in everything I do and always believes in me. My family - Stew, Cole, Kai, Sydney, Abby, and Andrew - who always make me laugh and have a place for me at the table.
Favorite Saint Mary's Memory
In my first semester at Saint Mary's, I met who is now my partner of three years in my first seminar class. I couldn't be more thankful for being placed in the same class as him and will never forget Professor Jessie Turner's Seminar 01!
My Next Chapter
After graduating, I plan to pursue a career in the non-profit industry. I am passionate about animal welfare, species conservation, and prison/legal reform and hope to focus my work in these interests. For the following year, I have accepted a position with MyEd Prep, a high school preparation and college advising company. In the future, I am interested in pursuing a PhD in Sociology!
Clubs and Activities
Vice President of Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honor SocietyAlpha Kappa Delta Sociological Honor Society Inductee
Guyette Leadership Fellow
SMC Sustainability Blog Co-Founder
Climate Reality Leadership Campus Corps Co-Director
Dean's Academic List Member
Favorite Quote
"I want to do something splendid... I don't know what, but I'm on the watch for it, and mean to astonish you all, some day."
Sophia Courtemarche
Bachelor of Arts: Theatre Technical and Dance
Honors
Cum Laude
Louis LeFevre
Hometown
Huntington Beach, CaliforniaAward Bio
Sophia Courtemarche is a Technical Theatre & Design and Dance split major hailing from Southern California. Sophia has served the SMC community through involvement with New Student Orientation, the Mission and Ministry Center, and Student Involvement and Leadership. She is extremely grateful to the Performing Arts faculty for supporting her over the last four years and honoring her with this award.
My Greatest Supporters
I want to thank my mom for always supporting me through every up and down these four years. Thank you so much to Deanna and Cathy for your support and encouragement in my many major changes and letting me cry in your offices when times got tough. I am so grateful for everything and will miss the SMC community deeply.
Favorite Saint Mary's Memory
At the Paint the SMC during Weekend of Welcome my first year, this guy ran up to me with a handful of paint and left his hand print on my brand new white St. Mary's baseball cap. I was so annoyed and never knew who the person was. Fast forward to senior year and that guy is now my best friend. Shoutout Geoffrey Ulysses Geissinger!
Clubs and Activities
New Student and Family Programs: Orientation Leader, Weekend of Welcome LeaderMission and Ministry Center: Lasallian Peer Minister of Faith Sharing Communities
Student Involvement and Leadership: Student Engagement and Activity Leader
Performing Arts Department: Saint Mary's College Dance Company, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Irene Ryan Nomination, LeFevre Award
Favorite Quote
"The truth is, we are in uncharted waters."
Samantha Newman
Bachelor of Arts: English
Honors
Magna Cum Laude
Hometown
San Clemente, CaliforniaClubs and Activities
Student Coalition Against Abuse & Rape (SCAAR)The Lounge
riverrun Literary Magazine
PRIDE
River of Words at the Center for Environmental Literacy
The Center for Women & Gender Equity
Benjamin Rings
Bachelor of Science: Business Administration: Business Analytics
Honors
Cum Laude
Hometown
Alameda, CaliforniaMy Greatest Supporters
My boyfriend Adam, my friends: especially Kyle, Bear, and Matt. My cats: Kanga, Max, and O'Keefe.
Favorite Saint Mary's Memory
Hiking up to the Tree of Life; KSMC
My Next Chapter
Raising kittens and working in a field I'm passionate about.
Clubs and Activities
KSMCNational Society for Leadership and Success
Favorite Quote
Concentrate on what you want to say to yourself and your friends. Follow your inner moonlight; don't hide the madness. You say what you want to say when you don't care who's listening.
Sean Hennigan
Bachelor of Science: Psychology
Minor
Creative WritingHonors
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown
Oakland, CaliforniaMy Greatest Supporters
To Many to Count:
My Friends - Across the many schools and programs I’ve attended
My Parents and Sister - Who never stopped supporting or believing in me
My Grandparents - Who I consider more like second parents
My Cousins - All of whom I love like siblings above distant relatives
My Professors and Teachers - Who inspired me to keep going even when I felt I couldn't
Everyone Else - Thank you all!
My Friends - Across the many schools and programs I’ve attended
My Parents and Sister - Who never stopped supporting or believing in me
My Grandparents - Who I consider more like second parents
My Cousins - All of whom I love like siblings above distant relatives
My Professors and Teachers - Who inspired me to keep going even when I felt I couldn't
Everyone Else - Thank you all!
Favorite Saint Mary's Memory
So hard to choose just one, although the night the power went out was quite the adventure! From late night trips for food, desperate to recharge our phones, to venturing into new areas of campus and experiencing new and exciting things with new friends I never expected I would have, it was certainly a night to remember!
My Next Chapter
I look forward to a summer of traveling and reconciling old friendships with those I’ve been separated from as a result of the pandemic. With the eventual plan of returning to academia for graduate school, I will actively look for a job, internship, or volunteer opportunity to occupy my time during my gap year.
Clubs and Activities
D20Diversity Organization Council
Gael Force
Gael Gaming
Gael Pantry
International Club
Mental Health Club
Phi Kappa Phi
PRIDE
Psi Chi
Psychology Club
Favorite Quote
"''I wish it need not have happened in my time,' said Frodo.
'So do I,' said Gandalf, 'and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.'"
Manal Sadek
Bachelor of Science: Biology
Minor
ChemistryHometown
Walnut Creek, California
Madeleine Alt
Bachelor of Science: Psychology
Minor
Women's and Gender StudiesHonors
Cum Laude
Hometown
Tracy, CaliforniaMy Greatest Supporters
The Intercultural Center has been the source of so much love and support throughout my time at SMC. From the professional staff to the friends I made while working there, the IC will always hold a special place in my heart. My professors in the Psych and WaGS departments have also encouraged my academic and personal growth, and I feel grateful to have had so many amazing role models.
Favorite Saint Mary's Memory
The Diversity Retreat in Fall '19 is one of my favorite memories because I had the opportunity to gather in community with folks from various spaces on campus and reflect on our goals. By the end of that weekend, I felt supported and inspired to take on the rest of the year.
My Next Chapter
I am looking forward to developing a career in the field of psychology with the hopes of attending grad school to become a counselor someday. Thankfully, I have found a post-grad job that aligns with my goals in psychology and I am eager to start this next chapter of my life.
Favorite Quote
"Do your best with everything: loving and working and seeing the beauty in the world. Because it still exists no matter how grey things can feel. It’s not the whole truth."
Mayson Lord
Bachelor of Arts: English: Creative Writing
Minor
Women's and Gender StudiesHonors
Cum Laude
Hometown
Orangevale, CAMy Greatest Supporters
My little sister Juliet, my parents, Rosemary Graham & all my other professors, Sharon Sobotta.
Not to mention my girlfriend, my friends, and everyone in PRIDE!
Not to mention my girlfriend, my friends, and everyone in PRIDE!
Favorite Saint Mary's Memory
Hanging out and studying in North Claeys' 1st floor lounge with friends, working on essays at 2am at a solitary cubicle by the bookstacks on the library's 2nd floor, napping on the CWGE's couches, late night talks in Dryden and iTea.
My Next Chapter
Hoping to go into publishing, editing, or nonprofit work!
I also hope to write a book or make a visual novel, to get my stories out there into the world.
Clubs and Activities
PRIDECWGE
The Collegian
riverrun
D20
SCAAR
Favorite Quote
“The important thing is not how long you live, it's what you accomplish with your life. While I live, I want to shine. I want to prove that I exist. If I could do something really important, that would definitely carry on into the future. .... And so, if I were to disappear… I think all that I have accomplished will go on. That is— That would mean— that [my spirit's] living, right?"