16 Science Terps Honored as Senior Marshals
The graduating seniors demonstrated the highest levels of scholarship, service to the campus community, extracurricular involvement and personal growth.
Sixteen graduating seniors from the University of Maryland College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences were selected to serve as senior marshals. The students, who have demonstrated the highest levels of scholarship, service to the campus community, extracurricular involvement and personal growth, will lead the procession of graduates into the main commencement ceremony on May 22, holding special banners with their schools’ and colleges’ names.
The students will be joined by Marsha Guenzler-Stevens, director of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union, and Robert Infantino, CMNS associate dean, who oversee the marshals program.
Lora Abuobaid (major: chemistry; minor: humanities, health, and medicine) of Rockville, Maryland, volunteered with the activity coordinators at Children’s National Hospital’s Healing Garden, and founded and led Students Against Skin Cancer; she worked on implementing sunscreen dispensers and prohibiting tanning devices on campus. Aboubaid was a CMNS recruitment ambassador and a Guided Study Sessions leader for “Principles of Genetics” for three semesters.
Moumita Afrin (double degree: biological sciences, anthropology; minor: humanities, health, and medicine) of Ellicott City, Maryland, received the Outstanding Achievement award from the Environment, Technology, and Economy Scholars program in College Park Scholars, served as president of UNICEF, Journal Club coordinator with Grey Matters, subcommittee chair with the Student Health Advisory Committee, operations director for the Petal Project, a teaching assistant for introductory biology courses, and a CMNS peer mentor.
Benjamin-Nicolas Enwesi (major: computer science; minor: advanced cybersecurity experience for students) of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was a Presidential Scholar who was dedicated to diversifying STEM and making it more accessible to underrepresented populations. Enwesi served as president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, vice president of Kappa Alpha Psi, tech lead for Hack4Impact, and peer research mentor for FIRE, while serving as a mentor through College Bound. He was a teaching assistant for CompSciConnect and information systems courses in the Robert H. Smith School of Business, and held software engineering internships at Google and Intuit/Credit Karma.
Lijon Frances Guiyab (major: biochemistry; minor: Asian American studies) of Kingsville, Maryland, participated in the Integrated Life Sciences Honors program. She was vice president of Students Against Skin Cancer, liaison officer for the Pre-Surgical Society, a team leader and mentor through Maryland Mentor Corps, a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, an undergraduate teaching assistant and a research assistant investigating both podocin, a kidney protein and SARS-CoV-2. Guiyab plans to work as a medical assistant for a year before attending medical school.
Navleen Kaur (major: neuroscience) from Howard County, Maryland, was a research assistant with the Language, Experience, and Development Lab, where she investigated the role of early childhood language input on the development of language, executive functioning and social cognition neural networks. She also served as president of the Maryland Bhangra Dance team, was a Guided Study Sessions leader for general chemistry courses, a medical information officer for Hearts for the Homeless, and a member of Delta Phi Omega Sorority. Kaur plans to pursue a career in medicine.
Saanika Mahashetty (dual degree: biological sciences, management) earned a citation from the University Honors program in the Honors College. She founded the university’s first collegiate chapter of Trials of Color, advocating for diversity in clinical trials. As part of the Global Fellows program, she worked at the Food and Drug Administration’s Health of Women Program, researching gender disparities in medical device testing and their impact on diverse populations. Mahashetty was a member of UMD Anokha, the university’s South Asian a cappella group, including serving as captain and music director, and leading the group to wins at national competitions.
Steven Mendelson (major: biological sciences; minors: business, sustainability) of Rockville, Maryland, completed the College Park Scholars program and served as a Scholars engagement assistant and ambassador. He also worked as a campus tour guide, participated in MEOR, and spent part of his sophomore summer conducting marine biology research in Cape Town, South Africa. After studying abroad in Rome, Mendelson returned to UMD to further his involvement with the Food Recovery Network and the Student Alumni Leadership Council. He will attend Penn Dental Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Charvika Minna (major: neuroscience) from Laurel, Maryland, served as president of the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Education’s Service Learning Certificate Program and co-president of the Nu Rho Psi National Honor Society. She was a teaching assistant in four classes; a research assistant in the Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory; and a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, Mortar Board National Honor Society, OMSE’s Academic Excellence Society, American Medical Student Association and Pre-Surgical Society. Minna also took part in the First Year Innovation and Research Experience. She plans to work as a medical assistant before matriculating into medical school.
Wren Poremba (major: computer science; minor in philosophy) served as president for Lean on Me College Park, executive director for Hack4Impact-UMD and percussion section leader for UMD's Gamer Symphony Orchestra. Poremba interned for Inovalon, working on health care data analysis as a software engineer and presented research on how to make virtual reality accessible to blind and low-vision users.
Arjun Rakheja (major: biological sciences; minors: general business, actuarial mathematics) of Germantown, Maryland, was secretary and risk management officer for the Phi Delta Epsilon International Medical Fraternity, a team leader for Maryland Mentor Corps’ Maryland Math Program and Higher Achievement Middle School Program, a student ambassador for the Reed-Yorke Health Professions Advising Office, a volunteer in Terps for Change and Food Recovery Network, a Guided Study Sessions leader for cell biology, and the DEI chair for the Student Alumni Leadership Council. He earned the Integrated Life Sciences citation in the Honors College, analyzed coronavirus structures in Associate Professor Brian Pierce’s lab and studied cancer stem cells at Assistant Professor Michal Zalzman’s lab at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Off campus, Rakheja worked as a medical scribe for a vascular surgeon clinic; he hopes to apply to medical school.
Trisha Reddy (major: biological sciences; minors: Spanish, sociology) earned a citation in the Honors College’s Integrated Life Sciences (ILS) program. She served as president of the Undergraduate Student National Dental Association, president of the Indian Students Association, senior student ambassador for the Health Professions Advising Office, and office assistant for ILS. Additionally, she conducted research as an assistant in the Hearing Brain Lab and was a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society. Reddy hopes to continue advocating for health care accessibility as a dental student.
Jerry Shen (dual degrees: biological sciences, mathematics; minor: general business) of Boyds, Maryland, served as president of the American Physician Scientist Association and of Science Olympiad, treasurer for the Audubon Student Chapter, vice president of programming for La Plata Hall RHA, and a member of SCALE. Shen represented CMNS students on the Provost’s Student Advisory Council, is an undergraduate teaching assistant for organic chemistry, and is an undergraduate researcher at the Losert Lab. She completed the Integrated Life Sciences program in the Honors College. Shen aims to pursue a career as a physician, connecting his interests in advanced computational data science approaches to solving clinical problems.
Shashank Singh (major: computer science; minor: technology entrepreneurship), originally of Lucknow, India, served as co-president of the International Student Advisory Board, board member of the CMNS Inclusive Excellence Advisory Board and vice president of Student Affairs' Student Advisory Council, He was a teaching assistant for computer science courses and a community assistant. Singh was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society and received the Community Assistant of the Year Award.
Aditya Viswanath Viswanathan Ram (majors: biochemistry, neuroscience) of Ellicott City, Maryland, was a research assistant at the Fushman Laboratory, a teaching assistant for “Organic Chemistry I” lab, a resident assistant, an executive board member for the University Honors Student Board, a recipient of the Bruce B. Jarvis Outstanding Junior Award in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and a recipient of the Student-Proposed Innovation and Research Experience Award. Ram plans to attend medical school to become a physician who will work to improve the medical system and help underserved communities.
Matthew Williams (major: biological sciences; minor: science, technology, ethics, and policy) served as president of Delta Epsilon Mu, counselor for Camp Kesem, research assistant in the Herberholz Crustacean Lab, recovery leader with Food Recovery Network, and as tutor for the Petey Greene Program. Williams was also awarded the Honors Research Grant and the Maryland Summer Scholars Award. He received the Katy Betinger Service Award after completing the CIVICUS living-learning program. Williams plans to pursue a career as a physician specializing in pediatric care.
Caitriona Wright (major: biological sciences) of Kent Island, Maryland, was vice president of the American Society for Microbiology chapter at UMD and a resident assistant. She is thankful for all the opportunities the university has given her.
