Shari Ziegelstein, a native of Spring Valley, Rockland County, and 2000 graduate of Ramapo High School, was valedictorian of Union College's Class of 2004 at Commencement on
June 13.
She is the daughter of Geri and Joel Ziegelstein
of Rockland Lane
in Spring Valley.
She earned her bachelor's
degree in psychology with a minor in biology.
At Union,
she was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society; a selected presenter for
the National Conference on Undergraduate Research; a dean's list student; and
vice president of Chi Psi, the honor society in psychology. She received the
John Lewis March Scholarship for her achievement in the study of psychology.
Among her activities at Union,
she was a team captain for Relay for Life, a fundraiser for cancer research; a volunteer
peer mediator for Law
Order and Justice at Elmer Avenue Elementary School; and a volunteer reader for ROAR
(Reach Out and Read), a literacy program. She also worked as an
office assistant in the College's Department of Psychology, and was an intern in school social work with
the Schenectady City School District.
At home, Ziegelstein has
volunteered at Project Rainbow to help lead group therapy sessions for those
affected by drugs or alcohol. She has also worked as a substitute teacher
assistant at East Ramapo Central Schools, and as head counselor at Robin Hill
Camp in Wesley Hills.
Before coming to Union, she was in the honors program at SUNY Rockland, earning an
associate's degree in humanities and social sciences.
Ziegelstein plans to pursue a
master's in education degree with dual certification in early childhood and
special education at the Bank Street College of Education in New
York City.