Members of the A&S Class of 2024 — Extraordinary Journeys, the Class of 2024

Finding a place to belong

The Class of 2024 had a rough start to their college experience because of the pandemic, but that made them soak up every opportunity they could — from study abroad trips, to research experiences, to creative pursuits and sunsets on the slope. They formed strong bonds with professors and advisors and made memories with friends they say they will have forever.

Photos by Chris Kitchen

Extraordinary journeys: the class of 2024

Zixin Xu

Zixin Xu

Zixin Xu: Computer Science & Psychology

'I dream of investigating virtual reality and making an impact on the world'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Kathryn Cuneo

Kathryn Cuneo

Kathryn Cuneo: Religious Studies

'Learning Spanish has restructured how I see the world around me'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Kim Montpelier

person reading a book

Kim Montpelier: Classics & Philosophy

'I learned how to ask the right questions'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Shiva Dahagam

Shiva Dahagam

Shiva Dahagam: Chemistry, Biology & Economics

'There is no such thing as a failed experiment if you can learn something from the results.'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Wynne Williams-Ceci

Wynne Williams-Ceci

Wynne Williams-Ceci: Psychology and College Scholar

'I am grateful that my A&S education has taught me to be a contributing member of society with an open mind and room for learning new things.'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Jocelyn Tripoli

Jocelyn Tripoli

Jocelyn Tripoli: Asian Studies

'I've never been more clear on my professional goals and aspirations'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Sasha Boguraev

Sasha Boguraev

Sasha Boguraev: Computer Science & Mathematics & College Scholar

'I studied why miscommunication and ambiguity are so prevalent in human language'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Olivia Ochoa

Olivia Ochoa

Olivia Ochoa: Spanish & American Studies

'My ability to explore was instrumental in forming my academic consciousness'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Julia Nagel

Julia Nagel

Julia Nagel: English

'Taking Portuguese was one of the most enriching experiences of my college journey'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Zhenghui (Sunny) Zhang

Zhenghui (Sunny) Zhang

Zhenghui Zhang: Mathematics

'Applicable Algebra reshaped my understanding of math'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Skyler Risom

Skyler Risom

Skyler Risom: History

'I learned that my interests in history and finance are not mutually exclusive'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Sokhnadiarra Ndiaye

Sokhnadiarra Ndiaye

Sokhnadiarra Ndiaye: Africana Studies

'In our divided world, much can be changed through dialogue'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Alicia González

Alicia González

Alicia González: Sociology

'Having the opportunity to make your voice heard is essential to democracy'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Hannah Drexler

Hannah Drexler

Hannah Drexler: College Scholar & English

'I am researching the intersections of mental health and the capital punishment system'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Tessa Walden

Tessa Walden

Tessa Walden: Near Eastern Studies & Government

'I learned to push the boundaries of what I could accomplish'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Fatima Martinez

Fatima Martinez

Fátima D. Martínez: Psychology

'I'm a researcher in Cornell's Play and Learning Lab'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Rania Ahmed

Rania Ahmed

Rania Ahmed: Biological Sciences

'Exposure to diverse viewpoints and rigorous academic challenges has broadened my understanding of the world and deepened my intellectual curiosity.'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Emilie Boisrenoult

Emilie Boisrenoult

Emilie Boisrenoult: Economics

'I want to keep learning, about people, about culture, about myself'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Alyssa Schwertfeger

Alyssa Schwertfeger

Alyssa Schwertfeger: Biological Sciences

'I have met people from all different backgrounds'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Derrick Jones

Derrick Jones

Derrick Jones: Philosophy

'I never imagined a degree in philosophy could have such broad application'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

person smiling

person smiling

Tairan Zhang: Information Science & Government

'The orchestra program was the first home I found in college'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

person smiling

person smiling

Ianna Ramdhany Correa: Government, China & Asia-Pacific Studies

'The academic freedom fueled my own critical thinking and curiosities'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Axaraly Ortiz

Axaraly Ortiz

Axaraly Ortiz: History

'I have felt a sense of belonging'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Lindy Liu

Lindy Liu

Lindy Liu: History of Art & German Studies

'I've developed great connections with faculty and have been inspired by their insights'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

person smiling

person smiling

Chit Sum Eunice Ngai: Anthropology

'I strive to practice bravery and authenticity'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Milan Taylor

Milan Taylor

Milan Taylor: Anthropology & Archaeology

'My research in New Zealand boosted my confidence as a global citizen'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Anya English

Anya English

Anya English: Psychology

'I felt more empowered as a student and a woman'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Devisree Tallapaneni

Devisree Tallapaneni

Devisree Tallapaneni: Physics & Statistical Science & College Scholar

'I learned to build expertise in new sub-fields from scratch'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Feifei (Lily) Ren: Psychology

'My research made me realize how fascinating psychology is'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Rebecca Sparacio

Rebecca Sparacio

Rebecca Sparacio: English & Government

'I learned that I loved journalism and storytelling'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Kelly Su

Kelly Su

Kelly Su: Biology & Society & Asian American studies

'I conducted global health and policy research in Moshi, Tanzania'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Mara Xiong

Mara Xiong

Mara Xiong: Psychology

'I learned how research can be applied to settings outside the lab'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

person standing outside

person standing outside

Sophia Su: Economics

'Our team's research contributes directly to scalable solutions for global environmental issues'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Sarah Young

Sarah Young

Sarah Young: English

'The mythical allure of "Ithaca" reminded me of Odysseus’ epic return home'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Tamvi Namjoshi

Tamvi Namjoshi

Tanvi Namjoshi: Computer Science

'I've learned from amazing professors who study the social impact of technology'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Maggie Sandler

Maggie Sandler

Maggie Sandler: American Studies

'I discovered my major by taking classes that I found fascinating'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Max Link

Max Link

Max Link: Environment & Sustainability

'It's my dream to simultaneously address climate change and global poverty'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Brandon Li

Brandon Li

Brandon Li: Physics & Mathematics

'I made a major contribution to my research group’s software'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Juncheng "Spencer" Quan

Juncheng "Spencer" Quan

Spencer Quan: Government

'Act with intention, live with an open mind'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Julian Morales

Julian Morales

Julian Morales: Chemistry and Chemical Biology

'The world of chemistry is massive and ever evolving, with much of the work requiring an interdisciplinary skillset from other physical and life sciences.'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Ariel Baksh

Ariel Baksh

Ariel Baksh: Physics

'Be persistent, be passionate, and be true'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Peter Levine

Peter Levine

Peter Levine: Performing and Media Arts & College Scholar

'The knowledge that you don't think will do you any good in the future will affect you in the most profound way when you least expect it.'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Rudra Kumat

Rudra Kumat

Rudra Kamat: Mathematics

'I started a YouTube channel to help people learn higher mathematics'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Adelyn Carney

Adelyn Carney

Adelyn Carney: Mathematics & Economics

'Entertain the notion that your "requirements" are actually opportunities'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Asha Prabhat

Asha Prabhat

Asha Prabhat: Feminist, Gender & Sexuality Studies & Government & College Scholar

'My purpose in life is to tell stories'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Emily Pecsok

Emily Pecsok

Emily Pecsok: Applied Mathematics & Linguistics

'I've met a variety of people with a wide range of interests'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

person standing

person standing

Adriana Sanchez: Computer Science & Spanish

'All of these wonderful people have always advocated for me, believed in me and encouraged me'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Pareesay Afzal

Pareesay Afzal

Pareesay Afzal: Comparative Literature

'I am proud to have continued the cultivation of The Lodge'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Ana Gabriela Carmona-Pereda

Ana Gabriela Carmona-Pereda

Ana Gabriela Carmona-Pereda: Performing & Media Arts

'Performance has the ability to reshape our understanding of migration and citizenship'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Noah RIce

Noah RIce

Noah Rice: History of Art

'One of my first art history courses helped me discover my passion for Indigenous studies'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications