Name: April Zitkovich

Major: Computer Engineering

Why did you decide to pursue a STEM degree?: April decided to major in Computer Engineering because she loves playing with computers and seeing how they work. She also thinks robots are super cool.

Fun Fact: April flew a plane during the summer of 2018.

Name: Katherine Gonzales

Name: Florencia Gregorio

Major: Mathematics

Minor: Computer Science

Why did you decide to pursue a STEM degree?: After taking a calculus class in high school, Florencia realized that she has a passion for math. She also took AP Biology which also made her realize that she likes science. After thinking about all the courses that she had taken in high school and weighing which courses had captivated her, Florencia knew that STEM was for her. Florencia is aware that being a STEM major is not easy but she is ready for and welcomes this challenge!

Fun Fact: Florencia is a SEMILLA (Science Education Mentorship in Latino Lives in Academics) peer mentor.

Name: Mervin Martin Garcia

Major: Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology

Why did you decide to pursue a STEM degree?: Martin joined STEM to challenge himself and demonstrating that he is worthy of being a STEM student. Biology was his weakness throughout High School, and throughout community college but he enjoyed and overcame all of the challenges that came with it.

Fun Fact: Martin loves to dance: Salsa, Banda, Bachata, etc. His dance troupe calls him El Salsero.

Name: Kevin Serrano

Major: Computer Science

Why did you decide to pursue a STEM Degree?: Kevin always loved video games and being able to run ‘cheats’. But more than that he wanted to understand how these ‘cheats’ worked so he tinkered with every electronic and video game device he could get his hands on. Computer Science was a means for him to learn about the stuff he enjoyed most. :D

Fun Fact: Kevin played waterpolo in high school.

Name: Jose Sebastian Monzon

Major: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Why did you decide to pursue a STEM major?: Jose decided to join STEM because he wanted to challenge himself and was always impressed with the scientific method.

Fun Fact: Jose loves to play soccer.

Name: Gabriela Ramirez Munoz

Name: Luis De La Palma

Name: Stefanie Ramirez Castro

Major: Biology

Why did you decide to pursue a STEM major?: Stefanie decided her STEM because in high school, she enjoyed the math and science classes the most out of every subject. She also had amazing STEM teachers who made Biology, Chemistry and Math be a fun challenge!

Fun Fact: Stefanie played tennis all four years of high school and eventually ranked up to number one singles her senior year of high school. She has been playing ever since and this will be her sixth year playing tennis.

Name: Rosemary Garcia

Major: Double Major in Human Biology and Latin American and Latino Studies (LALS)

Why did you decide to pursue a STEM major?: Rosemary decided to major in STEM because she liked a challenge, and would be the first in her family to pursue STEM as a first generation college student. Also, she took an anatomy course in high school and loved it so much, that she knew she wanted to study something related to the human body. Lastly, that course is where she heard about the Perry Initiative Program for high school students so she applied and was accepted for the day program in orthopedic surgery and engineering for women. Rosemary highly recommends applying!

Fun Fact: Rosemary once fell off my dirt bike in middle school and got a third degree burns.