BUILD Graduates Collage

Top row, left to right: 

1. BUILDing SCHOLARS, The University of Texas, El Paso

This photo shows spring 2016 BUILDing SCHOLARS graduates, at The University of Texas, El Paso. All students were part of the 2015 – 2016 cohort.

Pictured from left to right:

Carlos Portillo, B.S. in psychology. Future plans: UTEP doctoral program in health psychology

Dora Galindo, B.S. in biological sciences. Future plans: Pending acceptance as a volunteer in the Peace Corps

Sarah Rodarte, B.S. in psychology. Future plans: Pending responses

Daniel Chavarria, B.S. in biological sciences. Future plans: UT Austin doctoral program in biomedical engineering

Alejandro Sarabia Gonzalez, B.S. in cellular & molecular biochemistry. Future plans: University of Michigan post-baccalaureate program

Not pictured BUILDing SCHOLARS graduate: Atzimba Casas, B.S. in cellular & molecular biochemistry. Future plans: Pending responses

2. BLaST, University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Elizabeth Ann Himschoot, cum laude, B.S. in biological sciences: physiology

Elizabeth plans to expand her research experience within the One Health field to develop a more focused plan for attending graduate school. She is spending this fall in Washington D.C. doing nutrition research at the National Zoo, an exciting opportunity to meet others interested in her area of education.

3. BUILD PODER, California State University Northridge

Front row, left to right:

Calvin Apodaca, B.S. in biology. Future plans: pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical and health informatics at the University of Washington

Roxxette Zepeda, B.S. in public health, CSUN Outstanding Graduate Senior. Future plans: UCLA’s master entry clinical nursing program, starting in fall 2017

Adriana Mendez, B.A. in sociology. Future plans: CSULA’s master of psychology program in forensic psychology

Julie Hong, B.A. in child and adolescent development. Future plans: post-baccalaureate research and then applying to an M.D. – Ph.D. program

Ashley Ward, B.S. in biochemistry. Future plans: University of Colorado, Denver, to pursue a Ph.D. in cancer biology

Umu Rogers, B.S. in biochemistry. Future plans: applying to M.D. – Ph.D. programs and graduate programs in biomedical sciences or biochemistry

Back row, Left to right:

Richard Gonsalez, B.A. in psychology. Future plans: attend the University of Maryland, master’s in industrial psychology

Jose Estrada, B.A. in psychology, awarded the 2016 – 2017 Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholarship to research the influence of social and biological factors on human behavior at the University of Michigan. Future plans: completing summer research at the University of Michigan and pursuing a Ph.D. at the University.

Gary Leonard, B.S. in biochemistry. Currently working on a manuscript with his mentor on their research on atropisomers

Middle row, from left to right:

4. ASCEND, Morgan State University

Barbara Okowa is a graduate of the first cohort of the ASCEND program. She graduated with her bachelor's in social work from Morgan State University this past May. She will be attending the Master of Social Work program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Social Work.

5. BLaST, University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Jesse J. Klejka, B.S. in biological sciences: cell and molecular biology, University Honors Scholar

Jesse plans to attend Victoria University in New Zealand, to pursue a master's study in clinical immunology to further explore research and clinical opportunities in the medical field. This will be a stepping stone towards attending medical school.

6. BUILD EXITO, Portland State University

Miya Walker, who graduated this spring, spent the past year doing research with the Sharing History through Active Reminiscence and Photo-imagery (SHARP) walking program. She worked with older African Americans to promote proactive behaviors in maintaining cognitive health. Next for Miya is moving to Washington D.C. for an internship with the Washington AIDS Partnership. Here, Miya is pictured with Dr. Carlos Crespo, director and professor, School of Community Health, and principal investigator for the BUILD EXITO program.

Bottom row, left:

7. BUILD at California State University, Long Beach

This photo shows the group of BUILD scholars who graduated this year from the CSULB BUILD cohort. Congratulations!

Lower right side, top left:

8. BLaST, University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Farimang Touray Jr., B.S. in biological sciences: physiology, Honors Thesis Scholar

Farimang, a BLaST URE Undergraduate Research Experience student for both fall 2016 and spring 2017, graduated in May 2017. He is planning to attend either physical therapy school or entering a masters of public health program, and he is firm in his plans to continue his education.

Lower right side, top right:

      9. BLaST, University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Vanessa T. Santana-Miranda, magna cum laude, B.S. in biological sciences: physiology, Honors Thesis Scholar

Graduating second-year BLaST Scholar Vanessa presented her research at the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society conference in Hiroshima, Japan, in June, 2017. Vanessa will be going to veterinary school next year. She has been accepted to the UAF/Colorado State University collaborative program, Washington State University and University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Lower right side, lower left:

10. BLaST, University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Olivia R. Rhines, B.S. in chemistry: biochemistry

Olivia is moving to Las Vegas this summer to attend UNLV's School of Dental Medicine (class of 2021). After graduation, she hopes to return to Alaska to practice.

Lower right side, lower right:

11. BLaST, University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Gabriel Cartagena, summa cum laude, B.A. in psychology, University Honors Scholar

Gabriel received the Joel Wiegert Award for Outstanding Senior Man (University-wide student award), as well as the Outstanding Research in Psychological Science at SACNAS 2016, and Outstanding Psychology Student of 2017 at UAF in the Department of Psychology. Gabriel has been accepted to the University of Florida's clinical and health psychology Ph.D. program, as well as their joint master's in public health program.

Not pictured graduates from BLaST, University of Alaska, Fairbanks:

Hannah Taylor Short, magna cum laude, B.S. in biological sciences: cell and molecular biology, University Honors Scholar, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society 

Hannah, spring 2017 BLaST Undergraduate Research Experience student, graduated in December 2016. She will be attending medical school at the Georgetown University School of Medicine, starting in August 2017.

Alexander Michael Shercliffe, magna cum laude, B.S. in biological sciences, physiology

Alexander, spring 2017 BLaST Undergraduate Research Experience student, graduated in May 2017.