Posted on Jun 11, 2008

Co-valedictorians:

Kaitlin A. Canty, Class of 2008 co-valedictorian

Name: Kaitlin A. Canty

Hometown: Cheshire, Conn.

Major: Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Political Science and Women’s & Gender Studies

Honors/Activities: Among her many honors, Canty was a Truman Scholarship finalist, a Presidential Scholar and a 2007 Phi Beta Kappa inductee. Enrolled in the Honors Program, she received Dean’s List recognition with a cumulative GPA of 3.99.  She was a tutor in the Writing Center, served as President of Women’s Union, was the co-coordinator of Safe Space and a member of numerous clubs and organizations including the Bias Crimes Committee, Pre-Law Society and Campus Action.

Plans after graduation: Canty plans to pursue family law studies in September at the University of Connecticut School of Law in Hartford.

Joshua C. DeBartolo, Class of 2008 co-valedictorian

Name: Joshua C. DeBartolo

Hometown: Middleburgh, N.Y.

Major: Bachelor of Science with a double major in Psychology and Economics

Honors/Activities:  The Honors Scholar completes his undergraduate career with a 3.99 GPA and membership in Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Epsilon National Economics Honor Society and Psi Chi National Psychology Honor Society. Active both on and off campus, DeBartolo spent a term abroad in Mumbai, India; served as co-chair of the Student Alumni Association; was an active member of the Entrepreneurship and Economics Clubs and played rugby and club baseball at the College.

Plans after graduation: DeBartolo begins his career mid-July as an analyst with Goldman Sachs in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Salutatorian: 

Michelle E. Koo, Class of 2008 salutatorian and Fulbright English teaching assistantship winner.

Name: Michelle E. Koo

Hometown: Las Altos, Calif.

Major: Bachelor of science in Psychology

Honors/Activities: Roger H. Hull Community Service Summer Internship; Women’s crew, Volunteer tutor at local schools and Kenney Community Center; College tour guide; Wells Community Service Theme House; president of the psychology honor society, Psi Chi; Phi Beta Kappa.

Plans after graduation: Koo earned a 10-month Fulbright English teaching assistantship grant at a secondary school in Madrid that will begin in mid-September. After returning from Spain, Koo will become an elementary school teacher for a Northern Califorina chapter of Teach for America, which sends recent graduates to teach in low-income school districts for up to two years.    

Student speaker:

Varun Shetty '08, student speaker at the 2008 Commencement

Name: Varun Shetty

Hometown: East Hills, New York

Major: Bachelor of Science with a double major Biology and Political Science

Honors/Activities: Golub House activities chair, and coordinator; Shakti South Asian Students Association secretary; founding member of the Hindu Students Association and Multi-Faith Council; internship with the National AIDS Control Organization in New Delhi, India, where he researched the evolution of India’s national communication policy with respect to the HIV/AIDS epidemic; two internships with the New York State Department of Health.

Plans after graduation: This summer, Shetty plans to complete his graduate coursework in Health Care Management at Union Graduate College. He then plans to work for a community health organization in New York City for a year before applying to medical schools. 

Read Shetty's speech here.