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 5/15/2023 By | Olivia Breitkopf

Angela Pan

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Angela Pan

Bianca Garcia

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Bianca Garcia

Aditi Hukerikar

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Aditi Hukerikar

Margaret Kops Kuveke

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Margaret Kops Kuveke

Prameela Kottapalli

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Prameela Kottapalli

Lirong Yao

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Lirong Yao

Syrielle Clement

'Everyone here has ambitious goals for themselves'

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Syrielle Clement

Anna Asch

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Anna Asch

Daniel Kim

'Cornell not only permits but rewards a wide curiosity'

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Daniel Kim

Zhiyuan Zhou

'You will find your life full of possibilities'

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Zhiyuan Zhou

Alexandria Kim

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Alexandria Kim

Erik Kirakosyan

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Erik Kirakosyan

Jacqueline Allen

'I hope to research strategies for treating neurodegenerative dementias'

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Jacqueline Allen

Cassidy Langenfeld

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Cassidy Langenfeld

Ben Caplan

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Ben Caplan

Sydney Bednar

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Sydney Bednar

Yu Wen Lynn Hong

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Yu Wen Lynn Hong

Olivia Snyder

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Olivia Snyder

Grace Tian

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Grace Tian

Caitlin McCabe

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Caitlin McCabe

Ishika Agrawal

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Ishika Agrawal

Gabrielle Hill

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Gabrielle Hill

Thea McKenna

'I presented my research at national conferences'

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Thea McKenna

Jeremy Jung

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Jeremy Jung

Aryan Khanna

'I customized my education to suit my unique interests'

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Aryan Khanna

Jeffrey Backus

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Jeffrey Backus

Claudia Leon

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Claudia León

Claire Duan

'The kindness of people often far exceeded my imagination'

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Claire Duan

Ulysses Rios

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Ulysses Rios

Yomaris Valerio Hernandez

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Yomaris Valerio Hernandez

Nola Rettenmaier

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Nola Rettenmaier

Rayna Klugherz

'I designed a website that highlights contemporary Haudenosaunee artists'

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Rayna Klugherz

Vee Cipperman

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Vee Cipperman

Fabio Cabrera

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Fabio Cabrera

Isaac Salazar

'I became a poet at Cornell'

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Isaac Salazar

Dea Fackovic Volcanjk

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Dea Fackovic Volcanjk

Hannah Robins

'I co-founded the Biology Undergraduate Research Program'

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Hannah Robins

Charlee Mandy

'Don't be afraid to radically change direction'

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Charlee Mandy

woman in front of waterfall

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Morgan Baker

Sophia Openshaw

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Sophia Openshaw

Hannah Master

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Hannah Master

Adam Shuman

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Adam Shulman

Yaoju Tarn

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Yaoju Tarn

Pasa Suksmith

'My research experience at Cornell has been phenomenal'

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Pasa Suksmith

Peter Terrazas

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Peter Terrazas

Hal Reed

'We are all wonderfully entangled'

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Hal Reed

Sufiya Ali

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Sufiya Ali

Celia Shapiro

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Celia Shapiro

Danielle Greco

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

Extraordinary Journeys 5/15/2023 By | Danielle Greco