5,000+

engineering doctoral programs as the University of Michigan
and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne, as well
as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) International
Scholars master’s program. “Solving problems is fun for me,”
he explains. “It’s why I like doing engineering and doing
research. That’s what I’m best at.” He is now focusing his
considerable problem-solving ability on electrical power,
studying intermittent renewable energy sources as part of his
doctoral program in energy systems engineering.
Kimberley Panther, a junior with a
double major in actuarial science and
chemistry, plans to become a
pediatrician/pediatric researcher. A
member of the Nutrition Club and the
Pre-Med Society, Last summer she began
a research project on the synthesis of
(pentafluorophenyl) porphyrins, which
she is still working on. Kim has also
completed actuarial internships for the
ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company. An honors
student, she is a Day of Pride Scholar, a member of the Alpha
Lambda Delta Honor Society, and a National Residence Hall
honorary inductee.
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Celina Rogers, a junior allied health
major, hopes to get her Ph.D. in physical
therapy. To learn more about her field,
she spent this summer shadowing
practitioners and volunteering at two PT
offices. Celina is a member of the
Minority Association for Pre-Health
Students (MAPS). An RA, she is also the
recipient of a Leadership Scholarship.
Andre Silva, a senior majoring in
electrical engineering, has served as
president of SHPE, a member of the
Engineering Ambassadors, and RA of
the Freshman Honors Learning
Community. He has also completed
internships at Pratt and Whitney for
the last two summers, performing data
analysis of the F135 class of aircraft
engines. Andre plans to work for Pratt full time after
graduation and pursue a master’s degree.
Honorio Valdes Espinosa de los
Monteros, a senior double
majoring in chemical and
biomedical engineering, has been
conducting research in Dr. Yu
Lei’s lab since January 2010. His
research projects have included
development of a Caulobacter
crescentus-based biosensor as well
as electrodeposition of gold and platinum nanostructures and
of silver nanocubes. Honorio has also been a member of the
SHPE, the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), and the
American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). This year
he received a Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF)
Award. In the summer of 2009, he attended the National
Institute for Leadership Advancement (NILA). And in the
summer before his freshman year, he was selected as the
Bridge Program Male Student of the Year. Honorio plans to
pursue a Ph.D. and become a professor or work in industry,
eventually starting his own technology-related business.
Gilberto Valentin always likes to try
new things and figured the STEM
field would give him plenty of
opportunities. A freshman with a
major in mechanical engineering, this
top-five CAPT scholar aspires to earn
a medical degree one day.
Desiree Wimberly, a junior majoring
in allied health sciences, plans to
become a pediatric nurse practitioner
and work with children who have
cancer. Her career choice was
inspired in part by a close aunt who
passed away from cancer. Both a
UConn Presidential Scholar and a
Wayne Wister Scholar, Desiree was a
member of the Public Health House Learning Community last
year and wants to earn a master’s degree in public health.
Elizabeth Zyzo, a sophomore double
majoring in communication disorders and
Spanish, began doing research on DNA
even before her freshman year as part of a
pre-college enrichment program. A
member of National Student Speech-
Language-Hearing Association
(NSSLHA), Club Field Hockey, and
Community Outreach on campus, Liz
plans to attend graduate school for speech
pathology or audiology. “I just knew that I wanted to do
something meaningful in my life, and that was by helping
others in the healthcare field,” she relates.
Stacey Small is a fourth year student who is pursuing a BS in
Industrial Engineering. She is the recipient of the highly
coveted Alice S. Ayling Scholarship, which she has received
annually since her second year at NU.
She has been active in CSO (Caribbean
Student Organization) and BESS (Black
Engineering Student Society), the NU
NSBE student chapter. She is a
CONNECTIONS participant in the
Women In Engineering (WIE) program.
Stacey was a participant in the 2008 LSAMP Summer Bridge
Program as an incoming freshman.