Outstanding Seniors Honored at College Banquet
Each spring, the college honors an impressive group of seniors who have excelled in a variety of areas. This year’s group is no exception, with accomplishments ranging from doing research at Johns Hopkins University, to being named Big West Scholar-Athlete of the Year, to working at an orphanage in Cusco, Peru.
Academic Excellence
Three students earned nearly perfect GPAs: math major Andrew Gallatin and biological sciences majors Rebecca Tay and Robert Thiel. Gallatin has worked with Professor Dave Camp on paleoclimate modeling research for two years and has presented the results at multiple professional conferences. He has been accepted into the doctoral program in mathematics at UC Davis.
Tay also participated in student-faculty research, including summer work at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland. She was a peer advisor in the college Advising Center and editor of Symposium, Cal Poly’s student research journal. She will start a doctoral program at Johns Hopkins in the fall.
Thiel did two years of research on point-of-care diagnostic devices with Professor Nathaniel Martinez and volunteered with multiple organizations, including the Special Olympics. He will begin medical school in the fall.
Contributions to the Objectives and Public Image of the University
Robin Mertens, a kinesiology major, represented the university in diverse ways. A member of the women’s soccer team and co-captain during the 2014 and 2015 seasons, Mertens was honored as Big West Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2015. In those roles, she met with prospective student-athletes, served as Cal Poly’s representative to officials and other institutions, and delivered a talk to Big West administrators.
Mertens also worked as a pre-health peer advisor at the college Advising Center helping students understand the best path to take to a health career. In addition, she volunteered at multiple community organizations, including a hospital and elementary school.
Contributions to the Objectives and Public Image of the College
Biological sciences major Meghan Hughes served the college and university in a number of roles. As head of the outreach committee for the college ambassadors, Hughes helped to organize a blood drive, assisted with the Cal Poly Pier Open House, and helped to run the college’s Student Research Conference, among other efforts.
Hughes also welcomed new and prospective students to campus through a number of university-level roles. She gave tours as an ambassador for University Housing, led a Week of Welcome (WOW) group, and trained other students to be leaders for both summer orientation and WOW.
Service to the Community
Amalia Iwasaki, a kinesiology student, performed a host of service work during her time at Cal Poly, working with everyone from elementary school students to residents at a senior living facility. Highlights include working at an orphanage in Cusco, Peru; teaching summer school for refugees; designing and implementing a fall prevention program for seniors; and volunteering in a second grade class at a local elementary school.
Iwasaki plans to continue serving others through a career as a physical therapist.
Top Club
The Biotechnology Club aims to inform its members about the applications of biotechnology in industry, medicine and agriculture. This year, the club partnered with other student organizations to plan and host Biotechnology and Biomedical Career Day. The club also hosted a number of speakers, including alumni who work in the field and students who had completed industry internships. Their activities also included tours of multiple biotech companies.
In addition, club members did a science presentation at a local elementary school.
