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](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/OliviaBreitkopf.jpg?h=0e2e005e&itok=yKvr7fm-)
![Angela Pan](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/AngelaPan.jpg?h=07d6987c&itok=BM9_qXlI)
'The International Student Union was a critical part of my Cornell experience'
Extraordinary Journeys![Bianca Garcia](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/BiancaGarcia.jpg?h=7576ee7e&itok=WDWOdKmd)
![Aditi Hukerikar](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/AditiHukerikar.jpg?h=f700f273&itok=EqVeEy6p)
![Margaret Kops Kuveke](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/MargaretK.jpg?h=833f31bc&itok=yL_eImVq)
'Tackling Japanese was one of the most rewarding academic experiences I have had'
Extraordinary Journeys![Prameela Kottapalli](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/PrameelaKottapali.jpg?h=156ac6a5&itok=-6vRnfUf)
'I learned it's possible to impact systems and structures that appear out of reach'
Extraordinary Journeys![Lirong Yao](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/LirongYao.jpg?h=07d6987c&itok=_PT0hFVI)
![Syrielle Clement](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/SyrielleClement.jpg?h=e1c3510f&itok=yfN-gxk_)
![Anna Asch](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/AninaAsch.jpg?h=f700f273&itok=hUIGbOlq)
'I'm interested in topics that relate math and computer science to climate and ecology'
Extraordinary Journeys![Daniel Kim](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/DanielKim.jpg?h=f95e6aee&itok=sQuiVFHy)
![Zhiyuan Zhou](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-03/Zhiyuan-Zhou-PS_012923_Harrison-Scholars_159.jpg?h=3c56549c&itok=EGkIA0l4)
![Alexandria Kim](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/AlexandriaKim.jpg?h=09120c18&itok=4rh1Tntf)
![Erik Kirakosyan](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/ErikKirakosyan.jpg?h=2c358d46&itok=ToJJ39FA)
![Cassidy Langenfeld](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/CassidyLangenfeld.jpg?h=134aa65f&itok=Nv0bl1g5)
![Ben Caplan](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/BenKaplan.jpg?h=f3c15b5b&itok=fMg6JgDg)
![Sydney Bednar](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/SydneyBednar.jpg?h=07d6987c&itok=2rgnOgas)
![Yu Wen Lynn Hong](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/LynnMong.jpg?h=07d6987c&itok=N9fw9Kxz)
![Olivia Snyder](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/OliviaSnyder.jpg?h=4fcf63e2&itok=VBVSUpWY)
![Grace Tian](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/GraceTian.jpg?h=b3d7d799&itok=MGvJNFy6)
![Caitlin McCabe](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/CaitlinMcCabe.jpg?h=2955742f&itok=odUSjBBi)
![Ishika Agrawal](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/IshitaAgrawal.jpg?h=6da71162&itok=HUq8dUv0)
'I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how technology can be leveraged for social good'
Extraordinary Journeys![Gabrielle Hill](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/GabrielleHall.jpg?h=a0e387a3&itok=jIG0cHMs)
![Thea McKenna](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/TheaMcKenna.jpg?h=0555c8e5&itok=2nsXfIRN)
![Jeremy Jung](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/JeremyJung.jpg?h=3d97563a&itok=UJtGfpp1)
![Aryan Khanna](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/AryanKhanna.jpg?h=f700f273&itok=3d6ozzRn)
![Jeffrey Backus](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/JeffreyBackus.jpg?h=54f98ee8&itok=u_loNEFh)
![Claudia Leon](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/ClaudiaLeon.jpg?h=1636a538&itok=bEsWE8l8)
'I've learned about and connected to my culture in ways I had never imagined'
Extraordinary Journeys![Ulysses Rios](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/IMG-6523%20%281%29%20-%20Ulysses%20Rios.jpg?h=8beaa07b&itok=lQSEQpeo)
![Yomaris Valerio Hernandez](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/YomarisValerioHernandez.jpg?h=07d6987c&itok=7pFLxNTm)
![Nola Rettenmaier](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/NolaRettenmaier.jpg?h=2955742f&itok=Tzy7BYUU)
![Rayna Klugherz](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/RaynaKlugherz.jpg?h=af81a050&itok=m8ivaVQ-)
![Vee Cipperman](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/VeeCipperman.jpg?h=156ac6a5&itok=Y0Wk8TC1)
![Fabio Cabrera](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/FabioCabrera.jpg?h=ed4b8125&itok=p9ImbLbC)
'I feel like I am leaving a family of friends, mentors and loved ones behind'
Extraordinary Journeys![Isaac Salazar](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/IsaacSalazar.jpg?h=f700f273&itok=k1eOVHZF)
![Dea Fackovic Volcanjk](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/DeaFackovic.jpg?h=3a9d7c3f&itok=4ECgNB8y)
![Hannah Robins](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/HannahRobins.jpg?h=331333df&itok=yFo4gEH2)
![Charlee Mandy](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/CharleeMandy.jpg?h=dfb3dccb&itok=huWkeghz)
![Sophia Openshaw](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/SophiaOpenshaw.jpg?h=5d888e0e&itok=Ds3oFXTY)
'I've gained a wide array of quantitative skills that I'll use to solve climate issues'
Extraordinary Journeys![Hannah Master](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/HannahMaster.jpg?h=b44bc465&itok=x5MHkwpN)
'Cornell gave me space to learn how to critically assess others' points of views...'
Extraordinary Journeys![Adam Shuman](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/AdamShuman.jpg?h=04967de1&itok=Ycag-MgZ)
![Yaoju Tarn](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/YaojuTarn.jpg?h=07d6987c&itok=i3Dwue7i)
![Pasa Suksmith](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/PasaSuksmith.jpg?h=49270c28&itok=qF75fPRv)
![Peter Terrazas](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/PeterTerrazas.jpg?h=e7ff261a&itok=SxafDatz)
'Challenge yourself to think differently, explore broadly, and connect wholly'
Extraordinary Journeys![Hal Reed](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/HalReed.jpg?h=3a9d7c3f&itok=oNpDUnKs)
![Sufiya Ali](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/SufiyaAli.jpg?h=54f98ee8&itok=pQPqtGYD)
![Celia Shapiro](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/CeliaShapiro.jpg?h=aff16e6d&itok=JIUqtuXU)
'I volunteered as a study hall tutor for the Cornell Prison Education Program'
Extraordinary Journeys![Danielle Greco](https://as.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/4_5/public/2023-05/DanielleGreco.jpg?h=6facefca&itok=1nowciU8)