Claudia Gutman of Floral Park, Nassau County, was co-salutatorian of Union College's Class of 2004 at Commencement
today.
A 2000 graduate of Floral Park High School, she is the daughter of Charles
Gutman and Janet Meyer.
Gutman earned her bachelor's degree with a major in biology
and a minor in women's studies.
Among her Union honors, she recently received the Josephine
Daggett Prize for the senior of outstanding character and conduct; the President's Commission on the Status of Women Senior
Scholarly Activity Award; the Samuel S. Feuer Prize for outstanding
performance in premedical studies; dean's list; Phi Beta Kappa, elected in her
junior year; election to the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society; the Edith
Emilee MacCoy Prize for excellence in the study of botany; and the Sigma Xi Research Award for the best presentation of research.
Gutman has been active as a crisis support member with Safe
Space, an organization dedicated to the support of survivors of rape and sexual
assault; a member of the Presidential Commission on Harassment and Sexual
Assault, which made recommendations for improved policy, procedure and
prevention of harassment and sexual assault; and a coordinator for Womyn's
Union, a club aimed at reducing gender
discrimination.
Among her community service
contributions, she was a volunteer
personal reading tutor for second grade students through Reach Out and Read (ROAR); and a “Big Sister” through the
College's chapter of Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
Gutman was selected to
participate with the Union contingent in the National Conference on
Undergraduate Research at the University of Indiana (declined
due to illness). She presented at the College's Steinmetz Symposium, an
exposition of student creative, scholarly and research achievement.
Gutman was a dental assistant
with Dr. Mark Molinsky,
and also worked as an intern with Dr. Barry Loffredo, traveling to Jamaica to assist with missionary dental
care. She is planning to work for a year as a dental assistant and then attend
dental school.