Catholic University Congratulates Student and Alumni Achievers

• Lacrosse Player Makes Inspirational Comeback

  

  Junior Tori Neill overcame illness to return to the field this season as a top player.

• Pursuing an Unending Love for Animals

  

  Senior biology major says she is fortunate to have found an environment that allows her to study science and continue her love for music.

• Grad Student Shares Her Art to Help Others

  

  Through theater, Annalisa Dias helped the people of a small village in Malawi share their stories. Now she is screening a film about that experience.

• Engineering Student on a Mission

  

  James Roche will travel with 10 other students to Jamaica, as part of a mission trip. He hopes to raise $29,000 to benefit disabled children.

• Digging into Iraqi Jewish History

  

  Doctoral student Ryann Craig is part of a team at the National Archives that resurrected the legacy of Iraqi Jewish heritage.

• Compassionate Policing

  

  Conor Hardy (B.A. 2012) is using his theology and religious studies degree from CUA in a surprising profession.

• Music Alum Takes the Lead

  

  A musical theatre alum is called up from the ensemble at the last minute — to glowing reviews for his role in Miss Saigon.

• Liturgical Musician and Composer

  

  At the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, John Henderson found success with performances of some of his original pieces.

• Exploring Global Perspectives in Medicine

  

  CUA grad Timmy Le learned about culture within medicine while volunteering in Vietnam's National Acupuncture Hospital's pediatric cerebral palsy unit.

• Studying Marriage, Family at JP II Institute

  

  Elise Crawford planned on going to law school. Instead, she decided to enroll at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family.

• Alumnus Helps Children to Learn Music

  

  Edward Leaf founded the Arlington Music Initiative to provide music lessons to children in need.

• New Grad Combines Politics and Social Justice

  

  John McCarthy (B.A. 2013) runs Future Civic Leaders, a nonprofit dedicated to underserved high school students.

• Media Studies Major Helps Plan Arts Gala

  

  Rising senior Gabriella Solimine had an internship this summer at a performing arts center in Newark, N.J., a city that holds a special place in her heart.

• Racking Up Sales on Alumna's Website

  

  As an undergrad, Briana Pashcow nurtured her idea to start a business. That idea is now a reality.

• A CUA Education Leads to Role as Educator

  

  Emily Lazor's experiences at CUA led her to seek a path that combined her faith with a program that would create structural change in society.

• Alumna has Love of Music and Physics

  

  Tara Lakeman sings for the Christian/Catholic ministry band Full Armor while studying for a graduate degree in medical physics.

• Art Student Finds Early Success

  

  Mark Thomas recently won a scholarship award for one of his photos. The studio art major already has his own photography business.

• Graduating Senior Discerns Vocation

  

  Brett Garland, who was accepted to the seminary in his home diocese, says experiences at CUA helped him discern his vocation to the priesthood.

• Research Leads to Five-Year Master’s

  

  Chris Furman had the opportunity to begin a research project as an undergraduate that he completed while in the biology department’s five-year master’s program.

• Commuter Student Finds Purpose at CUA

  

  Sophomore Reanna Sealey explores service and a future career path at CUA.

• Senior Wins Fulbright to South Korea

  

  Brendan Duffy will embark on a year of teaching English as a Fulbright scholar, but it’s not his first taste of international travel.

• German Teacher Comes Full Circle

  

  Salvatore Veniero, who earned dual degrees in secondary education and German, recently brought a group of American and German high school students to his alma mater.

• Senior Discovers Passion for Teaching

  

  Senior Lindsay Puvel has spent four years in service to the University and the community, culminating in her decision to pursue a teaching career.

• Sisters Grow Closer at CUA

  

  Twins and student athletes Jenny and Mary McGann were reluctant to go to the same college, but at CUA they have strengthened their relationship.

• Alumni Med Students Value Service

  

  Three alumni attend the same medical school, driven by a desire to serve others and treat the whole person.

• Journalist for Justice

  

  Joshua McElwee is an award-winning reporter for the National Catholic Reporter.

• Senior Gets Hands-on News Experience

  

  In her time at CUA, senior media studies major Monica Pastores has had a chance to work next to some recognizable news figures.

• Lacrosse Player Finds a Balance

  

  Lacrosse player and master's student Katie Miller has managed to balance athletics and academics in her time at CUA.

• Marathon Runner Excels in Academics

  

  Senior Jess Ford has pursued sport psychology research while at CUA and run four marathons in her spare time.

• Graduate Student Focuses on Research

  

  Wadad Alsalmi sees infectious disease research as a way to impact her world for the better.

• Senior Maps Out a Career

  

  Molly Thompson plans to use her knack for problem-solving as an operations analyst for J.P. Morgan when she graduates.

• Using His Voice to Build the Church

  

  This past summer, Ajani Gibson spoke to youth at the National Black Catholic Congress. On campus, he expresses his love for the Catholic liturgy in many ways.

• Siblings Inspired by Summer Service

  

  Junior Elizabeth Ratke and her brother, Pat (B.A. 2009), both made service abroad a priority this summer and returned with new perspectives.

• Senior Explores Passions at CUA

  

  At Catholic University, senior Alexa Doncsecz has had a chance to explore her passions: science, writing, and her faith.

• Senior Focuses on Bigger Picture

  

  At CUA, senior Trevor Falk has pursued opportunities that helped him decide how he might contribute to the world.

• Student Finds a Home at CUA

  

  After an uncertain start, senior Kara Stauffer now considers CUA her home.

• A Poet Finds His Way To The Stage

  

  Matthew Buckley Smith combines poetry with playwriting in Catholic University's M.F.A. program.

• Athlete Draws Accolades on and off the Field

  

  Mary Swarthout had offers to play lacrosse for Division I athletics programs but came instead to Catholic University and found success.

• Recent Architecture Graduate Receives Award

  

  Christine Chlebda was presented with the Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects UNBUILT grand prize.

• Sophomore Starts CUA Pep Band

  

  Rising junior Victor David revives pep band at Catholic University.

• Program Board President Loves to Plan

  

  Planning events at CUA has enabled rising senior Mary Rita McKenna to find her career path.

• The Play’s the Thing for Musical Theatre Major

  

  Walter Ware says CUA’s Musical Theatre Program gave him the opportunity to combine his two passions.

• New Teacher Wins Accolades

  

  Jere Lorenzen-Strait was awarded the 2011 District of Columbia Public Schools New Teacher of the Year.

• Debating Her Way through College

  

  Sarah O'Brien revived CUA's Debate Society.

• Student Sets Example in Social Work Field

  

  Carmelina Gilberto, a senior social work major, has spent the last four years making a name for herself in the social service field.

• Dream Jobs Waiting for Them

  

  Anna Galati and Darrell Carroll were offered their dream jobs in New York City’s financial industry just prior to starting their senior year.

• Math Major Creates Mobile App About CUA

  

  Mike McCarthy, a senior mathematics major and running back for the football team, came up with the idea of creating a mobile application about CUA while writing a research paper.

• Junior Politics Major Uses Time Wisely

  

  Junior politics major and philosophy and theology minor Sarah Morris is determined not to waste any time during her years at CUA.

• Student Earns a Global Education

  

  In his time at CUA, Louis Phillips has studied in London, Rome, and the Italian island of Capri. And he's hoping to go abroad again.

• Student Finds Path to Ministry at CUA

  

  Through her experiences at CUA, Teresa Nadareski has figured out what she wants to do after graduation.