This issue is dedicated to highlighting the Class of 2023 whose accomplishments have lived up to the institution's mission reflecting years of dedication, hard work, and commitment. Here are some of their stories.

Jessica Jaeb - Major: History, Communications

Having dreamed of being a Red Fox since the age of 5, Class of 2023 valedictorian Jessica Jaeb double majored in history and communication with a concentration in public relations and a minor in African diaspora studies. Jessica found a home at Marist working at the Student Activities office and welcoming new students as an orientation leader and tour guide. She also served on the board of “St. Jude Up ‘til Dawn,” organizing fundraising efforts to combat childhood cancer. Jessica was active in the Public Relations Student Society of America, Campus Ministry, and Habitat for Humanity. She completed four internships during her time at Marist, including one researching landscape architecture at the Hudson River Valley Institute. She also presented research at the Broadcast Education Association and National Collegiate Honors Council Conferences and created a magazine called Riveters for her Honors Senior Thesis, which focuses on inspiring American women. 

Favorite Marist Memory 

Fundraising as a St. Jude Up ’til Dawn participant and board member and singing karaoke with the Student Activities team at the finale event. 

Greta Stuckey - Major: Communications

The class of 2023’s Salutatorian, Greta is graduating as a communication major with concentrations in journalism and sports communications and a minor in political science. She was the Managing Editor of the Marist Circle, the Captain of the Women’s Cross Country and Track teams, a Resident Assistant (RA), and a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Association of LGBTQ Journalists. Focusing on her passion for journalism, Greta has interned at Hudson Valley Magazine, Young Hot and Modern Magazine, the Morning Call newspaper, and the Marist Poll during her time at Marist. Starting in July, Greta will be working toward a master’s in Magazine, News, and Digital Journalism from Syracuse University. 

Favorite Marist Memories 

Having dinner with Steve Kornacki, a national political correspondent for NBC News, and her political science class with Dr. Lee Miringoff, a class filled with guest speakers who helped spark her passion for politics, current events, and journalism.

Mason Nakamura - Major: Applied Mathematics, Data Science 

Mason is graduating with a double major in applied mathematics and data science with a minor in computer science. He was a member of Pi Mu Epsilon, the Deans’ Circle, and the Honors Program. He was awarded the department's Early Career Undergraduate Mathematics Research award and the Baccalaureate Award for Excellence in Mathematics. He participated in two NSF REU programs in geometric deep learning and graph theory at Michigan State University and Moravian University. He was also a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley in the Center for Human-Compatible Artificial Intelligence, formalizing a metareasoning framework for intelligent systems. Post graduation Mason will enter the Ph.D. program in computer science at UMass Amherst. 

Favorite Marist Memories  

Collaborating with Dr. Matthew Glomski, Dr. Peter Krog, and Dr. Elizabeth Reid and finally solving a combinatorial geometry problem with an elegant closed-form expression. Finding out that the teams' work will appear in the MAA journal Mathematics Magazine. 

Tyler Wenzel - Major: Biology

Tyler graduates from the Honors Program as a biology major with a chemistry minor. He’s completed five semesters of research at Marist, spent two summers interning at Pfizer in the Discovery Sciences Primary Pharmacology Group, and worked as a lab assistant for genetics, cell, and molecular biology classes. Posters at regional and international meetings have featured his work, and he will be a co-first author of an upcoming publication investigating protein glycosylation in mammalian cells. Tyler competed as a member of the Men’s Diving team, captaining the team in his senior year and earning MAAC All-Academic Awards all four years. In the fall, he will begin working towards his Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Biosciences at Penn State University. 

Favorite Marist Memory 

Getting to work in the lab with his amazing research group every day. 

Victoria Rey - Major: Business Administration 

Victoria is graduating with a business administration major, concentration in finance, a minor in fashion merchandising, and her paralegal certificate. She served as Vice President of Marist Fashion Inc., as well as a member of Beta Gamma Sigma Honors Society and Marist Pre-Law. Victoria worked as an Operations Management Tutor at Marist’s Academic Learning Center and with the Brooklyn Nets, furthering her career goal of Sports and Entertainment Law. This fall, she will attend St. John’s University School of Law in her hometown of Queens, New York.  

Favorite Marist Memories 

Studying by the river, taking hands-on classes in the Steel Plant, and cooking homemade Sunday dinners with the best friends she made during her time at Marist.