Seniors of the Class of 2023
Extraordinary Journeys, the Class of 2023

Life is full of possibilities

The pandemic upended the first year for the Class of 2023, but they made the most of their time, producing amazing research and creative works, developing lasting friendships and creating a litany of memories.

Explore the extraordinary journeys of this year’s graduates and see how their paths have prepared them not only for a successful and meaningful career, but also for a life well lived. 

Photography by Chris Kitchen

Student Profiles

Olivia Breitkopf

'I am most proud of my intellectual growth at Cornell'

Extraordinary Journeys
Angela Pan

'The International Student Union was a critical part of my Cornell experience'

Extraordinary Journeys
Bianca Garcia

'I have discovered the true value of my own work'

Extraordinary Journeys
Aditi Hukerikar

'My thesis gave me the chance to connect with my own heritage'

Extraordinary Journeys
Margaret Kops Kuveke

'Tackling Japanese was one of the most rewarding academic experiences I have had'

Extraordinary Journeys
Prameela Kottapalli

'I learned it's possible to impact systems and structures that appear out of reach'

Extraordinary Journeys
Lirong Yao

'The pandemic served as a reminder to focus on the present'

Extraordinary Journeys
Syrielle Clement

'I've realized that no idea or dream is too big.'

Extraordinary Journeys
Anna Asch

'I'm interested in topics that relate math and computer science to climate and ecology'

Extraordinary Journeys
Daniel Kim

'Cornell not only permits but rewards a wide curiosity'

Extraordinary Journeys
Zhiyuan Zhou

'You will find your life full of possibilities'

Extraordinary Journeys
Alexandria Kim

'I researched the disproportionately low voting rates of Asian Americans'

Extraordinary Journeys
Erik Kirakosyan

'I developed a sense of intrinsic motivation, accountability and maturity'

Extraordinary Journeys
Jacqueline Allen

'My journey across humanities, social sciences and life sciences has equipped me with a variety of valuable skills.'

Extraordinary Journeys
Cassidy Langenfeld

'My professors were always available and helpful when I needed advice'

Extraordinary Journeys
Ben Caplan

'I'm a tutor in Cornell's Friends of Farmworkers program'

Extraordinary Journeys
Sydney Bednar

'To my own surprise, I discovered new interests of mine'

Extraordinary Journeys
Yu Wen Lynn Hong

'My poetry class allowed me to slow down for a minute and feel wonder'

Extraordinary Journeys
Olivia Snyder

'I realized that anything was possible if I put in the time and effort'

Extraordinary Journeys
Grace Tian

'I hope my work gives women tools to confront sexism'

Extraordinary Journeys
Caitlin McCabe

'My research skills have grown beyond anything I could have expected'

Extraordinary Journeys
Ishika Agrawal

'I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how technology can be leveraged for social good'

Extraordinary Journeys
Gabrielle Hill

'I am proud of my accomplishments as both an athlete and a scholar'

Extraordinary Journeys
Thea McKenna

'I presented my research at national conferences'

Extraordinary Journeys
Jeremy Jung

'Cornell’s diversity in its student body is unmatched'

Extraordinary Journeys
Aryan Khanna

'I customized my education to suit my unique interests'

Extraordinary Journeys
Jeffrey Backus

'In the past four years, I feel I've been “awakened" '

Extraordinary Journeys
Claudia Leon

'I've learned about and connected to my culture in ways I had never imagined'

Extraordinary Journeys
Ulysses Rios

'The most valuable skills I've gained are persistence and perspective'

Extraordinary Journeys
Yomaris Valerio Hernandez

'I am more than capable of attaining all of my heart's desires'

Extraordinary Journeys
Nola Rettenmaier

'I’ve discovered facets of myself I didn’t know before'

Extraordinary Journeys
Rayna Klugherz

'I designed a website that highlights contemporary Haudenosaunee artists'

Extraordinary Journeys
Vee Cipperman

'The Daily Sun starts important conversations that change peoples' lives'

Extraordinary Journeys
Fabio Cabrera

'I feel like I am leaving a family of friends, mentors and loved ones behind'

Extraordinary Journeys
Isaac Salazar

'I became a poet at Cornell'

Extraordinary Journeys
Dea Fackovic Volcanjk

'My research introduced me to the creativity and versatility of chemistry'

Extraordinary Journeys
Hannah Robins

'I co-founded the Biology Undergraduate Research Program'

Extraordinary Journeys
Charlee Mandy

'Don't be afraid to radically change direction'

Extraordinary Journeys
woman in front of waterfall

'I learned to think critically about the causes of criminal activity and crime prevention methods'

Extraordinary Journeys
Sophia Openshaw

'I've gained a wide array of quantitative skills that I'll use to solve climate issues'

Extraordinary Journeys
Hannah Master

'I got to hold a million-year-old rock'

Extraordinary Journeys
Adam Shuman

'I became confident that I would be able to settle anywhere in the world'

Extraordinary Journeys
Yaoju Tarn

'My greatest takeaway from research was the true value of grit'

Extraordinary Journeys
Pasa Suksmith

'My research experience at Cornell has been phenomenal'

Extraordinary Journeys
Peter Terrazas

'Challenge yourself to think differently, explore broadly, and connect wholly'

Extraordinary Journeys
Hal Reed

'We are all wonderfully entangled'

Extraordinary Journeys
Sufiya Ali

"I've learned to think about things from a multidisciplinary perspective'

Extraordinary Journeys
Celia Shapiro

'I volunteered as a study hall tutor for the Cornell Prison Education Program'

Extraordinary Journeys
Danielle Greco

'I was exposed to a multiplicity of backgrounds, thoughts and opinions'

Extraordinary Journeys