Saint Mary’s College will honor three valedictorians for the Class of 2023 at the College’s 176th Commencement on Saturday, May 20, on Le Mans Green.
Emily Morin is from South Bend, Indiana. She is completing her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with Mild Intervention Licensure, K-6. While at Saint Mary’s, Emily taught in several different field placements including a 5th-grade classroom at Walt Disney Elementary School, a 2nd-grade classroom at Beiger Elementary School, and special education resource rooms at both Fred J. Hums and Northpoint Elementary Schools. Emily also student-taught in both Kindergarten and special education at Madison STEAM Academy. During the Summer of 2022, Emily studied abroad in Kyarusozi, Uganda where she taught at Moreau Nursery and Primary School. Through her study abroad program Emily was able to teach oral literature, English, reading, writing, music, art, and PE to children between the ages of 3 and 11. Emily was a part of the Dialogue Project at Saint Mary’s for the 2022-2023 school year. Emily has recently accepted a full-time teaching position as a resource teacher for the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation and is very excited to begin working with her future students.
View Emily’s valedictorian speech here.
Chyan Rangel is from Munster, Indiana. Rangel is completing a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience with a concentration in neurobiology and a minor in chemistry. While at Saint Mary’s, Rangel has served as the president of Future Women in Healthcare club, Vice President of Smick Cycle leading indoor spin classes, a microbiology tutor in the Writing & Tutoring Center, and is a member of the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society. Rangel conducted her senior research in the Ben May Department of Cancer Research at the University of Chicago. Her research examined the dynamics of Delta-Notch signaling patterns during embryonic development and will be presented at the Annual International Drosophila Research Conference. Off campus, Rangel works with children as a medical assistant in a pediatrics medical practice and was a front-line worker as a nurse aid in the COVID intensive care unit. She also volunteered her time at the Robinson Center helping children improve their reading skills. Upon graduating, Rangel will continue her research at the University of Chicago while continuing to explore graduate schools for a career in the sciences.
View Chyan’s address here.
Natalie Volling is from Crystal Lake, Illinois. She is completing her Bachelor of Science in Statistical and Actuarial Mathematics, and a minor in Spanish, in just three years. While at Saint Mary’s, Natalie served as an officer of the Math and Computer Science Club, where she helped promote mathematics in the Saint Mary’s community. Through a grant from the National Science Foundation, Natalie conducted a mathematical analysis for the St. Joseph County Department of Health during the Spring of 2022. Natalie studied the relationship between the naturally occurring gas radon and different demographics, the change in radon over time in the county, and the radon levels in the different zip codes. In May 2022, Natalie began a mathematical internship in Baltimore, Maryland and will begin a full-time career for the same company after graduation. She is eager to pursue her love of mathematics in her career. Additionally, Natalie will be pursuing her Master of Science in Data Science at Saint Mary’s College through the 4 + 1 Data Science Program.
View Natalie’s valedictorian speech here.