Commencement Celebrates Spring Graduates, Including Five, 4.0 Grads
Nearly 500 bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degree candidates crossed the stage during the 葫芦影业 Commencement for College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM) on May 11. The ceremony was held at NRG Arena.
Although more than 700 NSM students completed degree requirements for spring 2018, not all were able to attend the ceremony. NSM鈥檚 doctoral candidate participants, numbering over 40, earned degrees in atmospheric sciences, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, geology, geophysics, mathematics, or physics. Thirty-nine NSM master鈥檚 degree candidates attended, and more than 400 participants were candidates for bachelor鈥檚 degrees.
Eighteen students graduated through the teachHOUSTON program, a collaboration between NSM and the College of Education. They have committed to teach high school math or science.
There were 48 summa cum laude graduates, the highest academic honor for bachelor鈥檚 degree recipients. An additional 151 undergraduate students graduated either cum laude or magna cum laude.
The ceremony included a student address delivered by summa cum laude graduate Christopher Wong, who received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biology. Each year, NSM holds a competition for student speaker that is open to all summa cum laude graduates.
The ceremony also included remarks from NSM Alumni Association board member Dr. Kathy O鈥橩eefe, Student Government Association immediate past president Winni Zhang, and the Student Regent for UH System Board of Regents, Neelesh Mutyala, an NSM honors biomedical sciences major.
NSM鈥檚 4.0 Summa Cum Laude Graduates 鈥 Harari, Ibraheim, Kharsa, Lau and Smith
Noam Harari, Marina Ibraheim, Admad Kharsa, Jin Lau and Terrance Smith were honored as NSM鈥檚 4.0 summa cum laude graduates. All five will pursue advanced degrees.
Noam Harari 鈥 Beginning M.S. in Applied Mathematics at UH
A mathematics major and biology minor, Noam Harari transferred to UH in spring 2015.
He previously attended Texas A&M University. At UH, he tutored students in calculus,
pre-calculus and physics.
鈥淲orking with professors who value the act of teaching highly impacted my career goals,鈥
Harari said. 鈥淚 plan to use my advanced degree to either teach or work in the biomedical
sciences.鈥
Marina Ibraheim 鈥 Attending University of Texas McGovern Medical School
Marina Ibraheim, an honors biomedical sciences major, has already completed her first
year of medical school as part of UH鈥檚 B.S./M.D. dual-degree program. As a UH undergraduate,
she participated in a medical mission trip to Guatemala. 鈥淭hat experience reaffirmed
by desire to become a doctor,鈥 she said.
Through her undergraduate research, she was first author on a published paper covering emotion dysregulation in teens with borderline personality disorder.
Admad Kharsa 鈥 Entering University of Texas Medical Branch in Fall
A biology major, Ahmad Kharsa realized his potential in teaching while serving as
a tutor and peer facilitator in organic chemistry and biochemistry. He also participated
in a summer research program at M.D. Anderson working on potential treatments for
breast cancer.
鈥淏eyond my clinical interests in medicine, I plan to be part of an academic medical center and look forward to teaching future generations of physicians,鈥 Kharsa said.
Jin Lau 鈥 Entering Ph.D. Program in Economics at Rutgers University
Jin Lau, a mathematics major with a finance option, was born and raised in Singapore.
His experiences with UH professors, who went the extra mile to help students learn
and succeed, led to his desire to become an economics professor.
鈥淓conomics encompasses a good mix of mathematical analysis, and I would like to utilize it for a better understanding of the financial economy,鈥 Lau said.
Terrance Smith 鈥 Pursuing Medical Degree
Terrance Smith received a B.S. in biochemistry. His first degree, from Texas A&M University,
was in chemical engineering. After working in industry, he decided to change careers.
鈥淢y experiences as a UH biology peer facilitator cemented my interest in biology, especially life sciences, and shaped my desire to go to medical school,鈥 Smith said. Through upper-level courses and an M.D. Anderson internship, he developed an interest in cancer research.
Commencement Student Speaker 鈥 Christopher Wong
Commencement student speaker Christopher Wong is a native Houstonian. He received a bachelor of science in biology, with additional majors in French and liberal studies.
During his speech, Wong challenged graduates to 鈥減ress onward to a future where we can all benefit from the advancements of science and technology.鈥 He asked students to think more carefully about the world around them and to challenge what they feel is wrong.
In addition to training in the UH labs of Drs. Ognjen Miljanic and Mehmet Sen, Wong participated in a summer research fellowship at Yale School of Medicine. While there, he investigated molecular pathways of inflammation in the cardiovascular system.
鈥淒uring a medical mission to Honduras, I learned the importance of global health and primary care and developed a better understanding of healthcare disparities and challenges in developing nations,鈥 Wong said.
In July, Wong will enter Baylor College of Medicine. He has been awarded the John P. McGovern Foundation Scholarship, providing $30,000 over his four years at BCM.
Commencement Banner Bearers 鈥 NSM Outstanding Students
Continuing a tradition established in 2015, the Commencement processional included outstanding students from NSM鈥檚 six departments carrying the university, college and departmental banners. The banner bearers had the additional honor of sitting on stage as part of the Commencement platform party.
- University Banner Jin Lau, mathematics major
- College Banner Ahmad Kharsa, biology major
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry Terrance Smith
- Department of Chemistry Marina Ibraheim
- Department of Computer Science Kenny Le
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Ellen Creecy
- Department of Mathematics Noam Harari
- Department of Physics Luis Victor
- Kathy Major, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics