Major: Biology
Valerie Hageraats
Bachelor of Science: Biology
Honors
Cum Laude
Hometown
Kamuela, Hawaii
Thomas Maday
Bachelor of Science: Biology
Hometown
Alamo, California
Sean William Palaad
Bachelor of Science: Biology
Minor
SociologyHometown
South San Francisco, CaliforniaMy Greatest Supporters
My three dope brothers, my superhero mom, my super reliable dad, and my loving APASA Family. I could not imagine a world where I accomplish half the things that I have without all of your support. Y'all mean the world to me and I cannot stress how thankful I am. This one's for you!
Favorite Saint Mary's Memory
Hate these questions, its tough to pick just one! ... One of my favorite memories at Saint Mary's has to be APASA camping 2018. As a first year, they threw around the word "family" a lot, but I think this event really drove the concept home. Honorary mention has to be every single Asian Cultural Night. I am thankful for the education outside of the classroom because it grounded me in my roots.
My Next Chapter
I will be taking a gap year to strengthen my resume with hopes of applying to medical schools in the very near future. Stay tuned!
Clubs and Activities
Asian Pacific American Student AssociationAsian Cultural Night
St. Luke's Pre-Health Society
Basketball Intramurals
Independent Research with Dr. Berleman
Favorite Quote
Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love.
Rylee Lautrup
Bachelor of Science: Biology
Minor
PoliticsHonors
Summa Cum Laude
Carlos Freitas
Hometown
Sacramento, CAAward Bio
From Sacramento, California, Rylee Lautrup is graduating with a BS in Biology with a minor in Politics. Her most notable achievement during her time at SMC was her work on chemotherapeutic drugs and their cytotoxicity in mammalian stem cells in Dr. Sonya Schuh's lab. After graduation, she plans to do biological research in the time between SMC and medical school.
My Greatest Supporters
Above all, I must thank my mom for the most consistent support, love, and understanding. Without her, I wouldn't be who I am today and definitely couldn't have made it through college. Thank you to my family in general, for being my cheer team on the sideline and loving me through it all. And of course, my amazing friends who went through the ups and downs of college right alongside me.
Favorite Saint Mary's Memory
As weird as it may sound, many of my favorite memories have been studying. We would study for hours upon hours in Dante Hall, being there closer to the morning than to night. We would laugh, cry, yell at each other, and quiz each other like our lives depended on it. I know that I would never have gotten the grades I did without my study group, who will also be some of my lifelong friends.
My Next Chapter
After graduation, I plan on taking a couple of gap years in order to pursue research in the biological sciences. After that, I plan on attending medical school, with the current hope of becoming an orthopedic surgeon.
Clubs and Activities
- Biological Research with Dr. Sonya Schuh- DIRT: The Brazilian Amazon
- Saint Luke's Prehealth Society
- Saint Mary's Women's Club Soccer
Favorite Quote
"Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things… and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."
Keep moving forward.
Ryley Hernandez
Bachelor of Science: Biology
Honors
Cum Laude
Hometown
San Diego, California
Nicole Hernandez
Bachelor of Science: Biology
Hometown
Modesto, California
Nazneen Mujeeb
Bachelor of Science: Biology
Honors
Cum Laude
Hometown
Pleasanton, CAMy Greatest Supporters
My family and friends, thank you for everything!
Favorite Saint Mary's Memory
Living with some of my best friends and getting a chance to travel for Jan Term!
Manal Sadek
Bachelor of Science: Biology
Minor
ChemistryHometown
Walnut Creek, California