Honors: Graduating With Honors

Natasha Sheehan

Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts: Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP)

Honors

Graduating With Honors

Hometown

Walnut Creek/San Francisco, California

My Greatest Supporters

My family (my mother, father, two younger sisters, and dog) and my friends. I wouldn’t be where I am today without all their love and support.

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

Rushing from dancing in a ballet performance that ended at 4:30 pm to make a class at 5:00 pm! Also, squeezing in studying during any break I got in my work day full of rehearsals. I have many memories working on homework while in my dressing room in full hair and makeup and costume during an intermission.

My Next Chapter

I hope to eventually go to graduate school and become a certified nutritionist/registered dietician for dancers to continue my passion of ballet/dance and also nutrition, health, and wellness! I also hope to achieve all my ballet career goals and get to travel the world.

Favorite Quote

“The best way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

— Walt Disney

Alex Chester

Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts: Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP)

Honors

Graduating With Honors

School of Liberal Arts Dean's Award

Hometown

New York, NY

Award Bio

Alex Chester is an actor and editor in chief of the online magazine Hapa Mag (soon to be called Mixed Asian Media). She is the director of Mixed Asian Media Fest—a festival celebrating mixed API's through creative art forms, happening September 2021. Alex has performed on stage and screen: Keep an eye out for her appearance on The Good Fight.

My Greatest Supporters

My family, friends, and hubby

My Next Chapter

My online magazine Hapa Mag is rebranding to Mixed Asian Media in June. In September we are hosting our first annual festival Mixed Asian Media Fest. A celebration of Mixed Asian Pacific Islanders through the creative art lens. For more info please visit www.HapaMag.com/Fest

Ashley Nicole Murphy

Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts: Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP)

Honors

Graduating With Honors

Norika Matsuyama

Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts: Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP)

Honors

Graduating With Honors

James Patrick Ogle

Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts: Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP)

Honors

Graduating With Honors

Kalen Choei Sakima

Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts: Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP)

Honors

Graduating With Honors

Hometown

Waipahu, Hawaii

My Next Chapter

Www.KalenSakima.com

Ian Hussey

Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts: Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP)

Honors

Graduating With Honors

Hometown

Brooklyn, NY

My Greatest Supporters

My husband, my twin brother, and my Mom and Dad!

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

Ordering food and bantering during our late Sunday night classes with Professor Christian DeMatteo.

My Next Chapter

I am currently the Rehearsal Director at American Repertory Ballet in New Brunswick, NJ but I will be applying to graduate programs for the Fall of '22.

Clubs and Activities

n/a

Favorite Quote

I cannot pretend I am without fear. But my predominant feeling is one of gratitude. I have loved and been loved; I have been given much and I have given something in return; I have read and traveled and thought and written. I have had an intercourse with the world, the special intercourse of writers and readers. Above all, I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal, on this beautiful planet.

— Oliver Sacks - My forever inspiration

Mikhael Plain

Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts: Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP)

Honors

Graduating With Honors

Hometown

Meadow Vista, California

My Greatest Supporters

I was fortunate to have many people in my corner rooting for me: family, friends, colleagues, and advisors. My LEAP cohorts were especially encouraging and motivating.

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

Laughter! LEAP first caught my attention after I had no longer been involved in the dance community for quite some time. I was therefore eager to reconnect with my peers when I enrolled. The instant comradery did not disappoint. As performers, we already knew how to make the most out of challenging and stressful situations. The thrill of acing statistics my first semester was memorable too!

Favorite Quote

Carpe diem

Sara Elizabeth Seger

Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts: Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP)

Honors

Graduating With Honors

Skyla Genevieve Baron Schreter

Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts: Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP)

Honors

Graduating With Honors

Hometown

New York, NY

My Greatest Supporters

My husband Aaron. My mom, my dad, my brother, and my best friends.

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

Learning about kinesiology while icing both of my feet after a week of 10 Swan Lake performances, next to my classmates who were also icing their feet after a week of 10 Swan Lake performances. LEAP was so much about learning and experiencing as a community.

My Next Chapter

In New York, I have opened up an art space with husband, who is also my creative collaborator. I will be attending graduate school in the Fall at the New School in New York City. I will be a Master's Candidate for Arts Management & Entrepreneurship at the College of Performing Arts. I will continue to create my own freelance choreography work and independent artistic creations and collaborations.

Favorite Quote

"Hold holy your highest hope!”

— Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra