Student Biographies: Students that followed the educational pathway beginning at MCPS K-12 and Montgomery College and graduating from programs at USG (June 2009) Matthew Coates Seneca Valley High School Montgomery College, AA Communication University of Maryland, College Park, BA Communication Matthew Coates was a student in the University of Maryland, College Park Bachelor of Arts Communication program where he achieved a 3.68 GPA. A Maryland native, Matthew chose to take advantage of the academic resources closest to his home to shape his future. He attended Seneca Valley high School and then went on to Montgomery College while working in the family business. He transferred to USG and has been on the Dean s List every semester. Matthew has practiced his skills in the communication field by taking a role as a student writer for the USG publication, The Communicator. Matthew is pursuing a career in broadcasting. Daniel Day Magruder High School Montgomery College AA Business University of Maryland, College Park, BS Marketing Daniel Day graduated in May with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from USG s University of Maryland College Park, Robert H. Smith School of Business program with an impressive 3.68 GPA. He transferred from Montgomery College in 2007 with an Associate s degree in Business. He attended Magruder High School in MCPS. Daniel worked fulltime to finance his education while pursuing his degree at USG. Full time studies and full time work did not get in the way of Daniel achieving impressive academic accomplishment. He received the UMD Phillip Merrill Presidential Scholarship, the Chevy Chase Bank Scholarship, and holds memberships in the Premannum and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Societies. His leadership skills earned him the position of President, American Marketing Association s local chapter. As a result of his business experience and his travels to China he will be attending the University of Hawaii in the fall to earn a MBA with a focus on business in China. Enida Dinaj Montgomery College, AA Psychology University of Maryland, Baltimore County, BA Psychology Enida is senior at USG in UMBC s Psychology program. She came to the US from Europe (Albania and Italy) and when she arrived she attended and went on to Montgomery College where she obtained her AA degree in Psychology. After she receives her degree she would like to go to
graduate school and to eventually become a college professor. She would like to share her knowledge with others and help to influence their lives. Her specific area of interest is clinical psychology along with the interaction of people. While attending USG she has been a Guided Study Session (GSS) leader, presented at UMBC s Undergraduate Research Day (URCAD), been a member of Psi Chi, and volunteered with UNICEF. Her current GPA is 4.0. Brian Doyle Magruder High School Montgomery College, AA Computer Gaming University of Baltimore, BS Simulation & Digital Entertainment Brian Doyle was a student in the University of Baltimore s Simulation and Digital Entertainment program where he held an impressive 3.98 GPA. He entered USG from Montgomery College in 2007 with an Associate s in Computer Gaming and Simulation. Brian struggled with Attention Deficit Disorder in high school and graduated Magruder High School with a low GPA although he scored high on the SAT. At Montgomery College, he found a place to utilize his strengths in the gaming and simulation field. In October 2008 Brian was part of a team that won the first annual Games for the Health Game Jam. He applies his exceptional skills in his field to volunteer as a game and graphic designer on a team for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Brian recently began an internship to develop a prototype of an educational game for Baltimore County Schools. Brian s aspirations are to start a company in the electronic gaming industry. Kimberly Fordham Sherwood High School Montgomery College, AA Teaching Towson University, BS Elementary Education/Special Education Kimberly Fordham received her Bachelor of Science from Towson University s Elementary Education/Special Education Program where she achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA. She started her academic career as a student at Montgomery College earning an Associates of Arts in Teaching. She is a graduate of Sherwood High School in MCPS. Just as she had been on Towson s dean s list every semester she was a regular on the Montgomery College dean s list. It was not always straight A s for Kimberly though. She faced some obstacles in high school and dropped out for a semester. Once she made the decision to go back to high school she graduated on time and got straight A s. Her other academic accomplishments include receiving a long list of awards such as the Montgomery College Academic Excellence Award, University System of Maryland Regent s scholar, Distinguished Scholar transfer award, INOVA Health System Scholarship award, ETS Recognition of Excellence for Elementary Education Knowledge on the PRAXIS II test. Kimberly is a member of PHI Theta Kappa and Co-president of the local chapter for Kappa Delta Pi. She was inspired to become a teacher by playing the role of mentor and big sister to her three younger sisters. Her goal is to be a future special education teacher in Montgomery County and have a positive impact on the lives of children, no matter what it takes. Sangeeta Gauchan Quince Orchard High School Montgomery College, AA Biological Sciences University of Maryland, College Park, BS Biological Sciences Sangeeta Gauchan was a student in the University of Maryland, College Park Biological Sciences program and graduated in May with a 4.0 GPA. She has had a distinguished academic record beginning with Quince Orchard High School, as a transferee from Montgomery College and as a student at USG.
Sangeeta s academic honors from Montgomery College include the Distinguished Scholar Transfer and the Board of Trustees Scholarships, the Asian Student Academic Award, and the Montgomery College Honors Scholar Award. A consistent member of the Dean s list at both institutions, she also volunteers on campus as a tutor in biochemistry, is the Secretary and Vice President of Biology Engaging the Students of Tomorrow (BEST), and is a Shady Grove Student Ambassador. Academic success for Sangeeta did not come without many personal challenges. She moved from Nepal to the US without her parents and lived with an aunt in Rockville. As a foreign high school student at Quince Orchard, she faced difficulties in assimilating to the culture in the US while she worked to support herself and support her family living in Nepal. Sangeeta s goal is to enter medical school and one day serve overseas in a capacity where she can help others. Robin Henry Quince Orchard High School Montgomery College, AA Education Towson University, BS Elementary Education/ Special Education Robin is a senior with the elementary education/special education program. She graduated from Quince Orchard High School in MCPS and then attended Montgomery College before transferring to USG. After completing her degree she wants to get a job working at MCPS. Future career plans include obtaining her master s degree in administration and continuing to work with the special education population. While attending the TU program here at USG Robin has been a New Student Orientation Leader, volunteers her time to be a bible school teacher, and attended the NEA convention. She is a single mother of a 5 year old son and works part time while attending school. Her current GPA is 3.8. Mustafa Jawaid Damascus High School Montgomery College, AA Biological Sciences University of Maryland, College Park, Biological Sciences Mustafa Jawaid is an incoming junior in the University of Maryland, College Park s Biological Sciences program transferring from Montgomery College where he earned his associate s degree in Biological Science. He entered Montgomery College from Damascus High School. He plans to pursue a medical career in the field of ophthalmology and would like to attend medical school at the University of Maryland upon graduation from USG. His family is originally from Pakistan. To prepare for his future career, Mustafa has volunteered in the Medical and Surgical department of the Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. He has also worked in the Science Learning center at Montgomery College and helped students in the subjects of Biology and Chemistry. Mohammed s other extracurricular activities include participating in Blood Drives organized by Phi Theta Kappa, of which he is a member, and organizing cricket matches as the Cricket Club president at MC. Amir Karimi Montgomery College, AA Pre-Med University of Maryland, College Park, Biological Sciences Amir is an incoming junior with the University of Maryland, College Park s Biological Sciences program. Originally from Iran, he graduated from in MCPS and attended Montgomery College majoring in pre-med. At MC he was a part of the biomedical scholars program and currently interns with CVS Pharmacy. After obtaining his degree he would like to enter medical school to become a plastic surgeon. Other career goals include working for the non-for-profit company Doctors Without Borders.
Meresiet Kidane Montgomery Blair High School Montgomery College, AA Mental Health University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Social Work Meresiet Kidane is an incoming junior in University of Maryland Baltimore County s social work program. Meresiet is transferring from Montgomery College where she earned her associate s degree in Mental Health. Meresiet came to the United States from Ethiopia when she was 10 years old. She attended Montgomery Blair High School before enrolling at MC. Education is very important to her and her family. She will be the first Kidane to earn a bachelor s degree. Meresiet chose social work as her field of study and profession because she wants to make a difference in somebody else s life, ideally working with children and adolescents. She has interned at Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health at the Shady Grove Adventist Hospital and at Building Communities Today for Tomorrow (BCTT). At MC, she was the president of the Mental Health Club. As the president, she helped organize a Mental Health Day conference at MC as well as benefit concert, in collaboration with several other student organizations, at USG. Fernando Merino Walt Whitman High School Montgomery College, AA Business University of Maryland, College Park, BS International Business Fernando Merino was born and raised in Spain. He graduated in May with a Bachelor of Science in International Business at USG s University of Maryland College Park, Robert H. Smith School of Business with an outstanding 3.87 GPA. Fernando lived in Spain until his family came to the US when he was 16. He attended Walt Whitman High School in MCPS. As an avid horseman, he competed in Spain during his early childhood. A severe accident left doctors believing he would not walk again. Two weeks later he walked out of the hospital and vowed to take advantage of every opportunity he was given in life. Despite the struggle to adjust to a new culture in the United States he excelled and entered Montgomery College s Macklin Business Institute program. His achievements there include a perfect track record of being on the dean s list each semester including two semesters on the National Dean s list. He received the Macklin Business Institute Scholarship for his academic excellence and his involvement in community activities. The business community has also benefited from Fernando s accounting and finance skills through his internship with Telvent North America. His goal is to work for a few years in business and then pursue a master s degree. Johan Orjuela Montgomery College, AA Mental Health University of Maryland, Baltimore County, BS Social Work Johan Orjuela is a Bachelor of Science graduate from the University of Maryland, Baltimore Country s Social Work program. Johan transferred to USG in the fall 2007 semester from Montgomery College, where he earned his Associate s degree in Mental Health. Johan came to the United States 10 years ago from Columbia to be reunited with his mother who has been living in the United States. Johan attended from 2000 to 2004 before enrolling
at Montgomery College. Upon graduation from USG, he plans to pursue a dual Master s in social work and law. Johan s dedication to social work and academic excellence is reflected in his 3.5 GPA. He has interned at the Montgomery County Pre-Release and Reentry Services as well as with the Mental Health Association at the Mark Twain Middle School. He also worked with Building Communities Today for Tomorrow (BCTT). He values the support that his family has provided him throughout the years. Johan is the first in his family to graduate from college, an achievement that he takes great pride in. Ana Soule Winston Churchill High School Montgomery College, AA Nursing University of Maryland, Baltimore, BS Nursing Ana Soule graduated in May with a degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and School of Nursing with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She attended Winston Churchill High School and Montgomery College where she had a perfect 4.0 GPA. In addition to being a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Ana was the fundraising chair for the University Of Maryland Association Of Nursing Students at USG. Ana also held the office of Membership and Elections Chair with the State Nurses Association and was a delegate to the National Student Nurses Association annual convention. Her clinical instructors have given her outstanding evaluations. Graduate school and being a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner are Ana s long term goals. Alexander Tran Sherwood High School Montgomery College, AA Computer Gaming University of Baltimore, BS Simulation and Digital Entertainment Alexander Tran is a Bachelor of Science graduate from the Simulation and Digital Entertainment program at the University of Baltimore. He has earned a Dean s Merit Scholarship and graduated with a GPA of 3.9. Tran was a model student in the USG community who has overcome difficult odds to achieve the level of academic and leadership excellence he has displayed. His father passed away while he was attending Sherwood High School in Montgomery County. He lived at home to help support his mother and younger brother while pursuing his academic studies. Alexander s first attempt at college did not go well and he dropped out. He subsequently tried again, turned his performance completely around and was on the dean s list each semester. He entered USG from Montgomery College with an associates degree in Computer Gaming and Simulation and a GPA of 3.5. In 2006 he was the recipient of the Montgomery College Communications Art Technologies Award of Excellence. Alexander maintained a high level of academic excellence and service at USG. He was a strong advocate for the Simulation and Entertainment program and displayed this commitment by mentoring fellow classmates and representing the program at open house events. In addition to the above accomplishments, this outstanding student was the advertising lead for Montgomery College s Annual Gaming Expo and winner of the first Annual Games for the Health Game Jam in 2008. Alexander also applies his exceptional skills as a volunteer game and graphic designer for organizations such as Children s Hospice International, and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. His aspiration is to start a company in the electronic gaming industry.
Mary Vargas Montgomery College, AA Hospitality University of Maryland Eastern Shore, BS Hotel & Restaurant Management Mary Vargas graduated from the UMES Hotel and Restaurant Management program. She transferred from Montgomery College s Hospitality program as a Kendall Scholar and excelled as a student and leader at USG. Mary held the highest GPA in her program and was a member of the Eta Sigma Delta International Hospitality Honor Society. She was also very active on campus as the President of the Campus Kitchens Organization. Mary has stated that as a first generation college student, it is her honor to show her family that dreams can come true. She lives her commitment to achieving her goals by sharing her story of achievement with young Latino school children in Montgomery County Public Schools. Mary s immediate goal is to become a food service manager in the community.