Memo to Reporters: Profiles available of six students graduating this month
BERKELEY – Several success stories about a few of the many exceptional students in this year's graduating class at the University of California, Berkeley, are available at the UC Berkeley NewsCenter - http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/.
- Anosheh Afghahi, who volunteers with sick children and at a women's shelter, is Persian, but grew up in Sweden. She has an unusual outlook on her life and the incredible achievements she has accomplished. Her graduation is Saturday, May 24. https://newsarchive.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/05/14_afghahi.shtml
- It took Sarah Bonet half her life to graduate from UC Berkeley. This Friday, May 23 - 16 years, two kids and several careers after she began - Bonet will receive her undergraduate degree in anthropology and continue on to graduate school in creative writing. https://newsarchive.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/05/15_bonet.shtml
- Cognitive sciences graduate Sara Davis-Eisenman thought higher education would never be part of her future. For Davis-Eisenman, who grew up with parents plagued by mental illness and poverty, the journey represents a triumph of mind over matter. Not only did Davis-Eisenman graduate with high honors and Phi Beta Kappa, but she also very nearly won the University Medal, the top accolade for a graduating senior. Her graduation was Saturday, May 17. https://newsarchive.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/05/13_daviseisenman.shtml
- Transfer student Duane Dewitt arrived at UC Berkeley homeless, but through persistence and determination, this 48-year-old will graduate Phi Beta Kappa, be the student speaker at his graduation and continue on at UC Berkeley for graduate school. Dewitt will graduate on Thursday, May 22. https://newsarchive.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/05/15_dewitt.shtml
- Kenny Kamrin has many talents. This senior can juggle flaming torches, hypnotize people, do backflips, Tae Kwon Do and make math seem simple for athletes. His graduation is Saturday, May 24.
- Last December, after Ankur Luthra was awarded a coveted Rhodes Scholarship and then graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with two bachelor's degrees, he could have taken a well-earned break. Instead, the 21-year-old began conducting workshops to encourage other top students to compete for prestigious scholarships and jobs, while continuing his mission to provide hundreds of underprivileged and at-risk youth with computers, software and training. In addition to the Rhodes Scholarship, he was named University Medalist. His graduation from engineering will be Saturday, May 24. https://newsarchive.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/05/05_ankar.shtml