The end of the fall 2017 semester brings the latest cohort of alumni听into the Forever Buffs family. Read on to learn about some of CU Boulder's outstanding graduating seniors.
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Carolyn Castanon, ATLAS Institute
Carolyn Castanon, who developed a passion for web design after taking a class in ATLAS,听focused her capstone project on her challenging childhood, ripped from her family at the听tender age of 15. The interactive website, , follows her story through a timeline, showing photos, videos, drawings, diary entries and other personal relics.
鈥淚 want others to be aware that an American citizen can go through something so tragic鈥攜et be where I am right now鈥攁 fourth-year student graduating with an engineering degree,鈥� says Castanon.
Robert Mason Eastwood, College of Arts and Sciences
Robert Mason Eastwood graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 in psychology and neuroscience, a minor in philosophy and a 4.0 GPA. The听College of Arts and Sciences听outstanding graduate听loves to learn and likes hard questions鈥攐ne reason his honors thesis听explored whether听taking a study break while reading a textbook chapter improved reading comprehension.
鈥淭he opportunity to be exposed to new information, cutting edge conversations, to think critically, and to interact with professors who both know what they are talking about and care about it, too, is an opportunity that I would take regardless of what kind of recognition I get for it.鈥�
Caroline Vickstrom, College of Music
Caroline Vickstrom, a dual-degree student in choral music education and voice performance, as well as a full-time student-teacher, was听honored as the College of Music's Outstanding Graduating Senior at their recognition ceremony Dec. 21. Graduating with highest honors,听the super-achiever even opted to complete two semesters of calculus, although math isn鈥檛 required for her degree.
鈥淎s long as I can remember,听I've never said 鈥榥o,鈥欌�澨齎ickstrom shared.听鈥淎t the College of Music, there鈥檚 so much opportunity to try different things鈥攚hy put yourself in one box?鈥澨�
Kimi Bourland, College of Engineering & Applied Science
After leaving a top engineering school in California, Kimi Bourland听found her niche in CU鈥檚 Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. And her听perseverance paid off: She鈥檚听graduated with a 3.907 GPA, a wealth of research experience,听a new sorority formed under her watch and was named Outstanding Graduate of the College.
鈥淚 was always interested in research,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 thought it was really cool, the idea of doing something new that hadn鈥檛 been done before. It was kind of a blessing that I came to CU.鈥�
