Honors: SUMMA CUM LAUDE

Mae-Breanna Salinas

Bachelor of Science: Psychology: Child/Adolescent Development

Honors

Summa Cum Laude

Arthur S. Campbell
Frederick Whelan

Hometown

Milpitas, California

Award Bio

Breanna Salinas is from Milpitas, California. She is graduating with a BS in Psychology with a concentration in Child/Adolescent Development. She served as a STEM tutor, co-president and secretary of the Psychology Club, member of Psi Chi, member of a research team, and Psychology Departmental assistant. She’ll be attending Chapman's EdS School Psychology Program (with an LPCC emphasis) next fall.

My Greatest Supporters

I’m forever grateful for my family, friends, and professors at the Psychology department who supported me throughout the past 4 years! I am blessed to have such an amazing support system and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without having them in my life.

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

All of my favorite memories at Saint Mary's were with my amazing and supportive friends who I’ve been with since day one. Thank you for the adventures from the late-night boba runs to the Walnut Creek, SF, and Berkeley trips. You were truly my home away from home.

My Next Chapter

I am extremely excited to be attending graduate school at Chapman University! I will earn my MA in Educational Psychology and EdS in School Psychology with an emphasis in LPCC.

Clubs and Activities

Psychology Departmental Assistant
Research Assistant
STEM Tutor
Psi Chi Inductee
Phi Kappa Phi Member
Psychology Club Secretary and Co-President
Pacific Islander Cultural Night Co-Set Director and Co-Chair

Favorite Quote

“I trust the next chapter in my life because I know the author”

Malia Allison

Bachelor of Arts: History & Justice, Community, and Leadership: General

Honors

Summa Cum Laude

James L. Hagerty
Professor Ben Frankel

Hometown

Bellevue

Award Bio

Malia Allison is graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Justice, Community, and Leadership. Malia played for four years on the Saint Mary’s women’s soccer team and captained the team her senior year. This upcoming fall, she plans on playing her fifth year of college soccer before attending law school at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law.

My Greatest Supporters

My biggest supporters are my parents, Austin, Kylie, Connor, Monika, all my adopted brothers, and my friends. Thank you to all my family, friends, coaches, and teammates who have always pushed me to follow my dreams.

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

One of my favorite Saint Mary's memories is playing pick up soccer with my closest friends since freshmen year as seniors.

My Next Chapter

I will be finishing my last year of eligibility as a Saint Mary's Gael for the Women's Soccer team before attending Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in the Fall of 2022.

Clubs and Activities

Women's Soccer

Lydia Deng

Bachelor of Science: Allied Health Science

Honors

Summa Cum Laude

Hometown

Castro Valley, California

My Greatest Supporters

My 4 roommates, Jiana, Ryan, and so many of my other beautiful friends! My advisor and my amazing coworkers at the Health & Wellness Center. My brother, and most of all, my mom and dad.

My Next Chapter

Attending UCSF/SFSU's Doctor of Physical Therapy Program!

Clubs and Activities

Women's Club Water Polo
Asian Pacific American Student Association

Kathryn Magee

Bachelor of Science: Physics

Minor

Mathematics & Theology and Religious Studies

Honors

Summa Cum Laude

De La Salle
Galileo Galilei

Hometown

Happy Valley, Oregon

Award Bio

Kathryn Magee is a Physics major with Mathematics and TRS minors, and is passionate about bringing her faith, science, and justice together. At SMC, she served as president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and captained the Debate team. After graduation, she is excited to serve college students across the Bay as a campus staff minister. She thanks her family and friends for their love!

My Greatest Supporters

My Family - Mom, Dad, Ryan, Aunt Toria, and more
My Lasallian Community and Assumptionites
My Profs - Coblentz, Barram, Carpenter, Ray, Rosario, and everyone who pushed me to work harder
My Debate team - Bella, Luke, Marielle, Jem, Mayo, Barb, Ojaswi, Andrea
My InterVarsity Fam - JC, Arzella, Mikayla, Sarah, Brett, Tyler, Hadley, Elliott, Nicole, Dante
My Squad - RZ, Juls, Jazmin, Sarah
Bethany <3

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

A spontaneous picnic on chapel lawn with some of my favorite people, just spending community time together laughing and eating good food. I've traveled all over with some of them, from Missouri to Canada, but that moment on the grass is my favorite because it is such a simple joy to share an afternoon with people you love.

My Next Chapter

I'll be working in the bay as a campus ministry intern for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship! I’m beyond excited to start working on a staff team that shares my passion for Christ and college students. InterVarsity was a huge part of my college experience: it’s where I met some of my closest friends and dug deep into my faith, and I can't wait to serve the next generation of students this fall.

Clubs and Activities

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Macken Debate and Speech Team
STEM Center Tutor
Assumptionite
Lasallian Community
Liturgical Choir and Cantor

Favorite Quote

"So keep dancing your prayers, and the way will open before you. Search, and you will find. Keep sending up your prayers, and they will be heard."

— Creator Sets Free (Luke 11:9)

Kailee Musgrove

Bachelor of Science: Psychology: Clinical Counseling

Honors

Summa Cum Laude

Hometown

Napa, California

My Greatest Supporters

My greatest supporters are my mom, my grandparents, and my sister. They have always been there for me and supported me in all my academic endeavors. Also all of my friends that I met at Saint Mary's, especially Josh Hall and Lucy Wetherall who have always been there for whatever I need whenever I need it.

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

One of my most found memories is staying up late and playing board games with my friends in Aquinas Hall. Chameleon was always a fan favorite and we could all play for hours. Even if we couldn't play Chameleon virtually, I still have enjoyed every zoom game night with them. I hope we can keep this up after some of us graduate.

My Next Chapter

In the fall I plan on attending Cal State University Northridge for their masters Marriage and Family Therapy program. It is a two and a half year program and after that I will work on getting my MFT license and working in community health care or in my own private practice.

Clubs and Activities

The Center for Women's and Gender Equity
Psychology Club
Honors program
Co-president of ASL Club

Favorite Quote

“At some point in life the world’s beauty becomes enough. You don’t need to photograph, paint or even remember it. It is enough. No record of it needs to be kept and you don’t need someone to share it with or tell it to.”

— Toni Morrison

Katelyn McCarthy

Bachelor of Arts: Theology and Religious Studies & Philosophy

Minor

Latin

Honors

Summa Cum Laude

St. John XIII Award

Hometown

El Sobrante, California

Award Bio

Katelyn McCarthy is a double major in Theology and Religious Studies and Philosophy, with a minor in Latin. She co-founded Students for Life of SMC, wrote as an opinion writer for The Collegian, and assisted with the Mission and Ministry Center. She hopes to publish a collection of books and enjoys cross-stitching, studying early American history, and befriending feral cats.

Kara Townsend

Bachelor of Science: Biology & Dance Choreography

Honors

Summa Cum Laude

Hometown

Sugar Land, Texas

My Greatest Supporters

My greatest supporters during my experience at SMC were my family, my dance family, my study group, and my assumption squad. They have supported me through everything!

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

My favorite memory would have to be all the nights my assumption friends hiked up to the cross to listen to music and sing at the top of our lungs. I also cannot forgot all the long nights that my study group would spend in Dante doing homework and preparing for our tests. What got us through those long nights had to be chipotle, golden palace, Starbucks, boba.

My Next Chapter

I am planning on finding a job in medicine, health care, or research to further my knowledge of Biology. I will hopefully go to grad school or attend PA school in the future. I want to also continue my passion for dance and will hope to continue dancing alongside my future job.

Clubs and Activities

Saint Mary's College Dance Company Member
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society

Katherine Douglas

Bachelor of Arts: Kinesiology: Sports and Recreation Management

Honors

Summa Cum Laude

Hometown

Los Gatos, California

My Greatest Supporters

My family and friends have been the greatest support system.

My Next Chapter

I've started my own business and am continuing to grow it.

Katherine Kahler

Bachelor of Science: Economics

Minor

Performing Arts: Theatre

Honors

Summa Cum Laude

Adam Smith

Hometown

Modesto, California

Award Bio

Katherine (Arzella) Kahler entered Saint Mary's intending to double major in Theatre and JCL. An econ course led to her discovering a great interest in economics, and she is now graduating with a BS in Economics and a minor in Theatre. Moving forward, she is considering a career in criminal law or pursuing a graduate degree in Economics.

My Greatest Supporters

This may sound like a cliche, but I mean it with complete sincerity when I say that my family is my greatest support. They have always pushed me to work hard and study hard, but ultimately to just do my best in everything. They have imparted on me the belief that I am capable of anything and that I can do anything I set me mind to. When I need help, they are the ones I turn to.

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

I have many wonderful memories of my time at Saint Mary's. Perhaps my favorite memory and thing to do is hiking to the cross at night. Whether I am alone or with friends, there is nothing I would prefer to do on campus. There is something serenely beautiful being up there at night looking down on the campus below or up at the stars.

My Next Chapter

Life after graduation is a daunting thing to think about. Some already have a plan for where they are heading next and others may still be figuring things out. I fall into the later category. While I don't have a specific course planned out, I am strongly considering attending law school, obtaining my masters in Economics, or potentially working in the film or theatre industry.

Clubs and Activities

Inter-varsity Christian Fellowship
Theatre
Honors
Gael Force

Favorite Quote

"We know what we are, but know not what we can be"

— William Shakespeare

Julia Racioppo

Bachelor of Arts: Communication

Minor

Cinematic Arts

Honors

Summa Cum Laude

Byron Bryant

Hometown

Alamo, California

Award Bio

Julia Racioppo is a Gael from Alamo, California, graduating with a Bachelor's in Communication, with a minor in Cinematic Arts. Throughout her time at Saint Mary's, she was most heavily involved in Gael Force, New Students and Family Programs, and Coed club tennis. Post-graduation, Julia is applying her education in Communication as a marketing coordinator at an East Bay real estate firm.

My Greatest Supporters

Biggest Thank You to my Saint Mary's family who I cannot live without: Veronica Nims, Sarah Gallo, Louis Marin, Noah Moretti, Emilio Takenaga, Brett MacDonald, Ariana Harr, Lindsey Robles, Brendan Carr, Chuck Novak and the entire Mitty Mob!
To my top educators: Neeley Silberman, Chad Arnold, Steve Miller, Norrie Palmer and Dan Leopard.
Lastly my family! Mom, Ryan, Dad, Grammy, GPF and Gueli.

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

My best memory has to be the First Year Soiree. This guy tried to dance battle me and he ripped off his shirt and the crowd went wild, and when I tried to rebuttal I fell and sprained my ankle and had to crawl to Mitty. That was the night I became a living legend on this campus and made many of my longest friendships, even the guy who showed me up in the dance battle.

My Next Chapter

Starting next week I will be working full time as a Marketing Coordinator for a local Keller Williams Realty branch, The Renee White Team, in Walnut Creek. I am excited to apply what I have learned as a Communication Major to my career and hopefully learn lots on the job! I hope to be moving in with some of my Saint Mary's family here in the East Bay ASAP.

Clubs and Activities

Gael Force Executive Team President
GF Team Vice President
GF Team Men's Basketball Commissioner
Two year Orientation Leader
Three Year Wowie
4 Year Club Tennis Team member and 2 year Vice President
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Member

Favorite Quote

"Today's assignment...Kick Some Ass!"

— School of Rock