Nine top graduating seniors have been named Undergraduate Deans Medalists for the Class of 2011 at California State University, Fresno.
The medalists are chosen as the outstanding students in each of the university’s eight schools and colleges of academic discipline and the Division of Student Affairs.
The dean of each college/school selects an undergraduate medalist and a graduate medalist based on academic excellence, community involvement and other achievements.
The 2011 Undergraduate Dean’s Medalists:
Jamie Ruddy, Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology – Ruddy, who is from Madera, completed Bachelor of Science degrees in Food and Nutritional Sciences and Biology with a 3.89 GPA. She combined classroom experience with work and volunteer experiences throughout her studies, serving as an emergency medical physician’s assistant for four years at St. Agnes Medical Center. Ruddy also has tutored junior high and high school students in mathematics, language, art, reading and science and volunteered at the Poverello House. She also served on the University Health Services Advisor Committee and Council of President’s Scholars. Ruddy is a Smittcamp Family Honors College President’s Scholar; a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the Tri-Beta National Honor Society. She has received the Frank K. Feurt Memorial Academic and Liliane D. Wells Academic Scholarships. She hopes to provide holistic healthcare for Central California through nutritional science and medical knowledge.
Cassidy Smith, College of Arts and Humanities – Smith, who is from Fresno, completed a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism with a 3.97 GPA. Smith is a Smittcamp Family Honors College President’s Scholar. She has been an intern for the Carmel Bach Festival and Fresno Magazine, reported for the Fresno Bee and was a writer/reporter in Dr. Gary Rice’s community journalism program. Smith was a reporter, anchor and producer for “Fresno State Focus,” a campus student newscast. She is president of the Leadership Council for the Smittcamp Family Honors College. Smith and was one of 11 students selected as a Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning ambassador. She received the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award, the Town Hall Award for Excellence in Journalism and the Excellence in Community Journalism Political Reporting George F. Gruner Award. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in journalism or global communication.
Britney Neufeld, Craig School of Business – Neufeld, who is from Madera, completed a B.S. in Business Administration and B.A. in Linguistics with a 3.93 GPA. A Smittcamp Family Honors College President’s Scholar, Neufeld is bilingual (English and German) and has studied in Germany. As a Craig Honors scholar, she conducted research on European patent reform and enforcement. She also competed on the Craig School’s award-winning human resources games team. Throughout her education, she has been engaged in volunteer service at the Marjaree Mason Center, Central California Blood Center, Children’s Hospital Central California, Bulldog Pantry, Red Cross and UNICEF. Neufeld is a member in several honor societies: Sigma Alpha Lambda, Phi Kappa Phi, Golden Key International Honour Society, and Beta Gamma Sigma. Neufeld plans a career in public service by pursuing a Juris Doctorate with a concentration in international law at the University of California’s Hastings College of Law.
Janette Lomeli, Kremen School of Education and Human Development – Lomeli, who is from Madera, completed B.A.s in both Liberal Studies and History with a 3.57 GPA. Her parents brought her to the U.S. from Mexico at age nine. Their perseverance influenced Lomeli to strive to reach her dreams. Through volunteer work she won scholarships that assisted with expenses and provided invaluable experiences helping others. Lomeli has been part of the Kremen School Teaching Fellows program for four years, gaining hundreds of hours of practice teaching first-, second- and third-grade children. She has been a peer counselor and organized projects and events for the Women’s Resource Center. She also tutored at the J.E. Young Continuation School, helped organize events for the California Dream Network and participated in the Chicana Conference. She has received the Chicano Alumni Association Scholarship and the CAMP Leadership Award. Lomeli has been active in the Entre Mujeres Club, Dreamers in Action Standing and College Assistance Migrant Program. She plans to pursue a master’s degree.
Songita Choudhury, Lyles College of Engineering – Choudhury, who is from Clovis, completed a B.S. in Electrical Engineering with a 4.0 GPA. A Smittcamp Family Honors College President’s Scholar, she has demonstrated excellence in academics, research, leadership and service. As a sophomore, she joined a multidisciplinary biomechanics laboratory on campus, and began studying the effects of a neurotoxin known to cause Parkinson’s Disease-like symptoms in fruit flies. In this research group, Choudhury excelled as a contributing researcher in the lab. She contributed to successful grant proposals, gave five presentations at regional and international conferences and published five abstracts (two as first author). She is co-author of two pending peer-reviewed journal publications. Choudhury served as Associated Students Inc. senator for the Lyles College of Engineering, president of the Lyles College Officers Council and vice chair of the ASI Finance Committee. She held leadership positions in the honor societies Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering or bioengineering.
Michelle Alcantara, College of Health and Human Services – Alcantara, who is from Fresno, completed a B.A. in Health Science with a 3.78 GPA. As an undergraduate, she became a leader in the Student Public Health Association, helping students make the most of their college careers by linking them with needed services. Alcantara played a key role in the 100 Years of Public Health event s during fall 2010. She was one of 22 students throughout the nation chosen for an internship with the National Directors of Health Promotion and Education/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She is completing her internship with the American Lung Association as a health educator on dangers of second-hand smoke and an advocate for smoke-free policies. She volunteers with Program Impact to promote smoke-free areas on campus and raise awareness of second- and third-hand smoke. Alcantara has applied to the master’s in public health program with career plans to help in underserved areas.
Rachel Prohoroff, College of Science and Mathematics – Prohoroff, who is from Fresno, completed a B.S. in Geology with a 4.0 GPA. Prohoroff has received a Smittcamp Family Honors College President’s Scholarship, Alumni Foundation Scholarship, F. Harold Downing Scholarship, a College Undergraduate Research Grant, the Frederick Dale Trauger Scholarship and a National Science Foundation travel grant. Her senior thesis project yielded data presented at an international geology conference. The results are being submitted for publication in a major peer-reviewed journal. Prohoroff has logged more than 250 hours of community service, raising funds for the Arthritis Foundation, working with Children’s Hospital Central California and participating in outreach to middle and high schools. Prohoroff will do postgraduate work after her acceptance into Ph.D. programs at McGill University, USC, UCLA, and Stanford.
Tracey Chow, College of Social Sciences – Chow completed a B.A. in Political Science with a 3.88 GPA. She grew up in the small, close-knit community of Easton, southeast of Fresno. While at Fresno State, Chow took advantage of every opportunity to study abroad to better understand international societies and politics. She received a Maddy Institute scholarship and is scheduled to begin her internship at Washington, D.C. with Rep. Jeff Denham this summer. Chow has served the community through trash pickups, graffiti cleanups and bike rides. She has surveyed Fresno State students concerning biking in town. Chow works in a daily office job and a weekend restaurant job. Chow’s parents, uncles, siblings and cousins are all Fresno State alumni. She plans to keep traveling in an international relations career that could focus on sustainable agricultural development.
Darnell Fisher, Division of Student Affairs – Fisher, who is from Los Angeles, completed a B.A. in Social Work with a 3.87 GPA. At Fresno State, he has been named to the Dean’s List and the President’s List several times for academic accomplishment. He was accepted into the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program. Fisher has served as an adviser and academic tutor in Upward Bound, after-school teaching fellows programs and at the campus Learning Center. He has presented on college readiness at Fresno State African-American student recruitment conferences, which he believes are opportunities to help high school students enter college and succeed in life. Fisher has volunteered with the Fresno City revitalization department, ReadFresno, Fresno State’s Black Student Union and his church, where he serves as a youth leader. He is an intern at the Juvenile Justice campus in Fresno. He considers this work his greatest passion because of his commitment to help young men understand that they can succeed in life.
