Class of 2010: Outstanding grads leave mark on ASU

December 08, 2010

<p>More than 5,000 students will celebrate this holiday season with a diploma in hand – here's a look at a few of those exceptional graduates.</p><separator></separator><p> </p><separator></separator><h2><a href="http://asunews.asu.edu/20101215_commencement_al_marzougi"><img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="http://asunews.asu.edu/files/images/Shaher_Al-Marzougi_3283b_th.jpg" alt width="100" height="100">Graduate student uses obstacles as inspiration</a></h2> <p>Challenges are fuel for master’s graduate <strong>Shaher Al-marzougi</strong>. At ASU’s Department of Biomedical Informatics he discovered a program that melded his love of medicine and computing, where he studies how to create better prothestic arms.</p><separator></separator><p> </p><separator></separator><h2><a href="20101208_preciousbiyela"><img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="http://asunews.asu.edu/files/images/precious_biyela_th.jpg" alt width="100" height="100">Doctoral student surmounts cultural shock to succeed</a></h2> <p>When <strong>Precious Biyela</strong> arrived at ASU in 2005 as a doctoral student, she faced a double dose of culture shock. However, Biyela persevered and succeeded in all ways and became an expert in mathematical modeling.</p><separator></separator><p> </p><separator></separator><h2><a href="http://asunews.asu.edu/20101210_heatherfulton"><img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="http://asunews.asu.edu/files/images/Heather_Fulton_th.jpg" alt width="100" height="100">Journalism grad plans to keep her ASU connection alive</a></h2> <p>When asked what she’ll miss most about ASU, <strong>Heather Fulton</strong> might be one of the few graduating seniors to say, “My classes!” Fulton has described her experience at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication as truly memorable.</p><separator></separator><p> </p><separator></separator><h2><a href="http://asunews.asu.edu/20101206_harkin_commencement2010"><img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="http://asunews.asu.edu/files/images/Liz_Harkin_th.jpg" alt width="100" height="100">As her soccer career ends, medical school beckons</a></h2><p>After three years as one of the top collegiate soccer defenders in the country – and three straight years of earning First-Team Pac-10 All-Academic honors – ASU's <strong>Liz Harkin</strong> is hanging up her soccer cleats and heading for medical school.</p><separator></separator><p> </p><separator></separator><h2><a href="20101203_Hellum+"><img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="http://asunews.asu.edu/files/images/Jennifer_Hellum_th.jpg" alt width="100" height="100">Cronkite grad finds passion in cutting edge journalism</a></h2><p><strong>Jennifer Gaie Hellum</strong> found her passion when she came to ASU as a graduate student in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. "The more I learned about the Cronkite School, the more I wanted to be there," she says.</p><separator></separator><p> </p><separator></separator><h2><a href="20101208_erinkuroiwa"><img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="http://asunews.asu.edu/files/images/Erin_Kuroiwa_th.jpg" alt width="100" height="100">Graduate student project has lasting community impact</a></h2><p><strong>Erin Kuroiwa</strong> will receive a master of healthcare innovation degree at the College of Nursing & Health Innovation convocation on Dec. 17. However, the work she did toward her degree will live long past the ceremony.</p><separator></separator><p> </p><separator></separator><h2><a href="20101208_ChristyLittle"><img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="http://asunews.asu.edu/files/images/Christy_Little_2837b_th.jpg" alt width="100" height="100">Grad conquers Cronkite boot camp after serving in Iraq</a></h2> <p><strong>Christy Little</strong> worked as a multimedia journalist for the American Forces Network in Iraq where she jumped out of Black Hawk helicopters dressed in full body armor and carrying all of her broadcasting gear – plus a few guns.</p><separator></separator><p> </p><separator></separator><h2><a href="http://asunews.asu.edu/20101210_commencement_meek"><img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="http://asunews.asu.edu/files/images/Shantel_Meek_th.jpg" alt width="100" height="100">Graduate student lauded for her work with autism</a></h2> <p><strong>Shantel Meek</strong> is on a quest to improve the quality of life for children with autism and their families. As she strives to learn how children with autism can be more successful in school and improve their social skills, she has employed research and practical experience in the community.</p><separator></separator><p> </p><separator></separator><h2><a href="http://asunews.asu.edu/20101206_Podgorskigraduate+"><img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="http://asunews.asu.edu/files/images/Natalie_Pogorski_th.jpg" alt width="100" height="100">Cronkite graduate earns broadcasting experience</a></h2> <p><strong>Natalie Podgorski</strong> graduates in December with a bachelor’s degree from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, a 3.99 grade point average and a resume full of practical experience.</p><separator></separator><p> </p><separator></separator><h2><a href="20101208_victorrobles"><img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="http://asunews.asu.edu/files/images/Victor_Robles_th.jpg" alt width="100" height="100">College opened doors of opportunity for first-gen student</a></h2> <p>For some students, higher education opens doors they didn’t even know were there. <strong>Victor Robles</strong> knows this firsthand. In his time at ASU, he has researched and presented on a variety of topics, including wind generator simulations and laser direct-write fabrication of optical waveguides.</p><separator></separator><p> </p><separator></separator><h2><a href="http://asunews.asu.edu/20101215_karensarver"><img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="http://asunews.asu.edu/files/images/Karen_Sarver_th.jpg" alt width="100" height="100">At 49, theater graduate will have her first play published</a></h2> <p><strong>Karen Sarver</strong>, who's 49 years old and graduating with her B.A. in Theatre and Film this December, says "It hasn’t been easy being the oldest person in the School of Theatre. But it’s been worth it to earn a degree in something I’ve been interested in since I was a kid."</p><separator></separator><p> </p><separator></separator><h2><a href="http://asunews.asu.edu/20101206_turner_commencement2010"><img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="http://asunews.asu.edu/files/images/Scott_Turner_th.jpg" alt width="100" height="100">Finance student named Outstanding Graduating Senior</a></h2><p>Finance major <strong>Scott Turner</strong> has been named the Turken Family Outstanding Graduating Senior for the W. P. Carey School of Business for this fall. Turner is graduating with a near-4.0 GPA with a bachelor of science degree in finance and a certificate in international business.</p><separator></separator><p> </p>