University of California, Santa Cruz Benjamin F.
Porter College
Commencement
Sunday June 15, 2025
Founded as College V 1969
Welcome
• Program •
Procession of Graduates
Banner Bearers: Graduate Marshals
Platform Party
Graduating Class of 2025
Ceremony
Soraya Murray
Provost, Porter College
Assoc. Professor, Film & Digital Media
Keynote Speaker
Terence Blanchard
Eight-time Grammy Winner and twice
Oscar-nominated, American jazz trumpeter and composer
Recognition of Awards: Soraya Murray
College Services
Deans & Chancellors
Presentation of
Provost, Porter College
Assoc. Professor, Film & Digital Media
Soraya Murray the Graduates
Provost, Porter College
Kathy Cooney
Associate Director, CSL, Porter College
Acknowledgement of Soraya Murray Service to the Arts
Celine Parreñas Shimizu
Distinguished Professor Film & Digital Media
Dean of the Arts
Conferral of Degrees
Cynthia Larive Chancellor
Recessional
(Please remain seated until the Platform Party has recessed).
Participating in the ceremony as members of our Platform Party
Michael Chemers Peter Limbrick Professor, Theater Arts Professor & Chair
Chair: Performance, Film & Digital Media Play & Design, Porter Fellow Porter Fellow
Akua Naru Elizabeth Stephens Assoc. Professor, Music Professor, Art Porter Fellow Environmental Art+ Social Practice MFA Porter Fellow
Gustavo Vazquez Loren Steck Professor, Porter Fellow
Film & Digital Media Porter Fellow
Kathy Cooney Interim. Director, College Student Life Porter & Kresge Colleges
Graduate Marshals
Lia Jones Noa Lahan
Zoe Payne Emily Ramirez
Anna Toledo Adrian Warren
Greg Zeigler
Benjamin Franklin Porter College
A Short History of Porter College
Porter College, the fifth college at UCSC, is named as a memorial to the grandfather of three University of California benefactors: The late Mary Porter Sesnon, Barbara Sesnon Cartan, and William T. Sesnon. Benjamin F. Porter came to California in the 1850s with his cousin George. While living in New Hampshire, the two had been attracted to California by glowing stories sent to them by another cousin, John Porter, a resident of Soquel in the 1850s. The young Porter cousins traveled by sea to Panama, crossed the Isthmus on foot to the Pacific, and boarded a ship on the Pacific coast for the final leg of their journey to California. After settling in Santa Cruz, Mr. Porter purchased a small parcel of land containing a tannery in the area now known as Porter Gulch.
By 1870 he had acquired adjoining lands and built a family home. That same year, Mr. Porter became founding director of The County Bank of Santa Cruz. In 1896, his only surviving child, Mary Sophia, married William T. Sesnon, a native of Alameda, who later became deputy secretary of the State of California.
Over the years, the Porter-Sesnon family has provided generous donations in support of UCSC. In 1968, Barbara Sesnon Cartan made a gift for the establishment of the Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery and Music Room in memory of her mother. The college, which was founded in 1969 as “College Five,” was formally dedicated as “Benjamin F. Porter College” on November 21, 1981. Other gifts have enabled the University to provide capital support and an endowment to our college.
Coat of Arms and College Banner
The colors of the Coat of Arms are the red-brown and green of the redwoods paired with the blue and gold of the University of California. The brown and green are active and growing elements within the framework of the University colors. The upper band consists of five repeated “V”s, with the central “V” set apart by the color green. The letterform “V” represents the original College Five taking it’s place amongst the other colleges. The central area contains a stylized representation of the Kenneth Farrell sculpture (located on the meadow overlooking the Monterey Bay) that here
becomes a symbol for both patterns of growth and the energy of the wave. This is set against a formal gold band on a blue field that symbolizes the institution of the University. The lower band contains the motto of the college: “Ars Longa, Vita Brevis”, Life is Brief,ArtEndures. The Coat of Arms was designed by Professor Emeritus Douglas McClellan. The college banner, bearing the Coat of Arms, was fabricated by Whitney Lane (Cowell, ‘82) and is carried in the procession of graduates by recipients of the College Service Award
The “Muse” lives at Porter College
The Porter College Commencement Ceremony was traditionally held in the Porter Quad and began with the Provost giving voice to the “Muse,” the bronze bell sculpted by Angelo Groza for the 1981 dedication of Porter College. Due to our increased number of graduates, we are no longer able to host our ceremony at the College, but the bell announcing the academic procession is still our beloved Muse.
The Academic Dress
Early in this century colleges and universities in the United States adopted a uniform code of academic dress. This code is followed today. Among European and other institutions, there is a wide divergence in the type of dress.
Cap
The cap is the “mortarboard” type with black cloth cover. The gold tassels may be worn by the holders of a Doctorate degree. There is no general rule for the position of the tassel on a mortarboard. Some institutions require under-graduate candidates for degrees to wear the tassel on the right front side before degrees are conferred and shift them to the left at the moment degrees are awarded. In some respects, this custom substitutes for individual hooding.
Gown
The Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral gowns differ slightly in pattern. Only the Doctoral gown bears trimmings. These are a velvet facing down the front and three velvet bars across each sleeve. The velvet may be black or it may be the color appropriate to the subject in which the wearer holds their degree. A number of American universities also have Doctoral robes, which are usually of some color other than black.
University of California doctoral robes are black with velvet sleeve trim. This robe is worn with a specially designed hood and mortarboard.
Hood
Faculty wear an academic hood that reflects their discipline. The colored linings of the hoods are those of the college or university that granted the degree. The velvet binding or edging is the color of the subject in which the degree was granted.
Colors associated with various subjects are listed below:
Arts, Letter, Humanities White
Communications, Journalism Crimson
Economics
Education
Fine Arts
Copper
Light Blue
Brown
Music Pink
Science
Golden Yellow
Social Work Citron
The Graduates
The Graduating Class of Porter College is enriched by many transfer students who lived at Porter College, but are affiliated with colleges across campus, and are participating in these commencement exercises. We welcome them and their families and friends as part of the Porter College community.
Guest Protocol
We ask that our guests remain seated and keep aisles clear during the procession, ceremony, and recessional, so that all of our guests have the opportunity to see their graduate.
Please bear in mind that we are the first of three ceremonies on the field this today. Our clean up & reset crew would appreciate it if you remember to take your programs, flowers, water bottles, etc. with you as you exit the field.
Keynote Speaker’s Biography
Terence Blanchard has been a consistent artistic force for making powerful musical statements concerning painful American tragedies – past and present. A true “Renaissance” man, Blanchard stands tall as one of jazz’s most-esteemed trumpeters and defies expectations by creating a spectrum of artistic pursuits. Boundarybreaking and genre-defying, Blanchard is recognized globally as a dazzling soloist and a prolific composer for film, television, opera, Broadway, orchestras and for his own ensembles. In fact, leading theater magazine TheaterMania recently cited Blanchard as “the most exciting American composer working in opera today.”
An eight-time Grammy Winner and twice Oscar-nominated film composer, Blanchard became only the second African-American composer to be nominated twice in the original score category at the 2022 Academy Awards, duplicating Quincy Jones’ feat from 1967’s In Cold Blood and 1985’s The Color Purple. Blanchard’s work has placed him at the forefront of giving voice to human rights, civil rights, and racial injustice, including the 2016 album “Breathless,’’ an elegy for Eric Garner, who was killed by police and whose words, “I can’t breathe,” became a civil rights rallying cry.
Terence Blanchard's full Bio. & Website, linked here
Land acknowledgment
The land on which UC Santa Cruz is located is the unceded territory of the Awaswas-speaking Uypi Tribe. The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, comprised of the descendants of indigenous people taken to missions Santa Cruz and San Juan Bautista during Spanish colonization of the Central Coast, is today working hard to restore traditional stewardship practices on these lands and heal from historical trauma.
The Graduating Class of 2025
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences
Ash Rose Abel Biology
Naidelyn Aceves
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Karla Acosta Psychology
Mariana Acosta Education, Democracy & Justice
Lulu Olive Acuesta Global & Community Health
Samarth Agarwal Computer Science
Artemio Rio Aguilar Ruiz
Education, Democracy & Justice
Alice Mikako Aiba Art and Economics
Seri Tzunuun Aldana
Ecology & Evolution
Lando Aldis Applied Mathematics
Avery Theresa Alegria Psychology
Kyle James Allemand Music
Audrey Drew Davis Film & Digital Media
Kaylah Allen Philosophy and Politics
Ruby Grace Allred Psychology
Angela Ambriz
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media and Education
Sheima Amir-Araghi Literature
Steve An Business Management Economics
Jaden Josephine Anderson Art
Savannah Saye Anderson Sociology
Jeremy Orion Anding Film & Digital Media and Literature
Augustina Eve Apodaca Film & Digital Media
Andrius Soares Appel Business Management Economics
Luca Nicholas Archenault Technology & Information Management
Brent Alexander Armstrong Computer Science
Isabelle Arnoldus Sociology
Karen Asakawa *4
Education, Democracy & Justice and Literature
Liam Asayag Robotics Engineering
Madeline Serena Ovenden Ashburn 4 Sociology
Miles Jasper Asher Computer Science
Annette Asryan Mathematics Theory & Computation and Physics
Sowri Athi Business Management Economics
Karla Atilano Film & Digital Media
Colin Alan Atlas Psychology
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Angus Watson Seiichi Bailey 4 Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Gabriella Baldwin 4 Business Management Economics
Rosie Creson Ball Psychology
Pilar Sebastiana Ballesteros Psychology
Emma Baltadano-Bañales Critical Race & Ethnic Studies
June Bandaruk Psychology
Liliana Barajas Diaz Anthropology and Literature
Pete Barajas Environmental Sciences
Calum James Baratti Film & Digital Media and Literature
Jasmine Barragan Art and Psychology
Octavio Barron Morales Literature
Tyler Steven Barton Applied Physics and Mathematics Theory & Computation
Samuel Horace Baxter-Bray Ecology & Evolution
Lilienne Josephine Bazel Psychology
David Becerra Electrical Engineering
Maya Taliya Becker Psychology
Taryn Marie Beers Anthropology and Latin American & Latino Studies
Mikayla Maurice Belsky Psychology
Jade Si Wai Beltran Marine Biology
Miles Alan Bernath 4 Literature
Lylia Rose Bernstein * Psychology
Madisen Berry Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology
McKenna Berry Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology
Dominic Bertocchini Computer Science
Alexander Ben Beteta 4 Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Jasmine Mira Bhatia Art
Claudia Holland Biggs ² History of Art & Visual Culture
Nate Binckley Music
Dax Andre Bizzell Jr. Psychology
Katarina Bjegovic Computer Science
Phoebe Cynthia Blackman Anthropology
Gracie Blaine Agroecology
Matthew William Blakeborough 4 Psychology
Alexandria Boettner Film & Digital Media
Cal Allen Boggan Technology & Information Management
Handrei Zeitsev Bohrjah Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Jayla Nycole Bonner
Technology & Information Management
Alice Borjigin Physics
Jack Montgomery Bowen Computer Science
Riley Brady Business Management Economics
Wes Vincent Bragais Film & Digital Media
Natalie Anne Branco Film & Digital Media and Cognitive Science
Jessica Nicole Brass Film & Digital Media and Literature
Ethan Briseno Sociology
Olivia Star Brogdon *4 Linguistics
Emily Brooks Art
Abigail Elyse Brown Technology & Information Management
Logan Blase Buchholz Psychology
Emelia Rose Buck Global & Community Health
Emma Lee Burns Environmental Studies
Jack Burns * Literature
Megan Bustamante Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Deven Bustillos Agroecology
Jason Erik Cabanday 4 Politics
Alyssa Cabral Anthropology
Kaylie Anne Jovellanos Calderon Psychology and Cognitive Science
Sebastian Daniel Callahan Literature
Michael Eugene Campanile Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Hayden Campbell Physics (Astrophysics)
Zaia Cali Campbell Philosophy
Roberto Andres Campos Cognitive Science
Alicia Candia Philosophy and Latin American & Latino Studies
Amos Ocampo Cao Computer Engineering
Erika Trinity Cardema 4 Film & Digital Media
Ella Carey Psychology
Cassidy Rose Carlson * Theater Arts
Laila Viola Psychology
Nessa Cascante Sociology
Nathan Daniel Casey Art
Ximena Girasol Castañeda Art
Angel Junior Castaneda-Hernandez Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Joshua A. Castellanos Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology
Olivia Castillo Psychology
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Thomas Ernesto Castillo Saenz Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Luke Michael Catalano Economics
Hannah Elizabeth Giorgi Cathcart Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Melody Elizabeth Caudill 4 Film & Digital Media
Annice Cecil Marine Biology
Clara Grace Ceerla Computer Engineering
Angela Kei-Yan Chan History of Art & Visual Culture
Maison Nicole Charles *4 Psychology
Anson Chen Computer Engineering
Auden Ross Chen Physics (Astrophysics)
Kelly Chen Film & Digital Media and Sociology
Kyle Chen Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Jia Cheng Liu Computer Science
Madison Audrey Cheung Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology
Harvey Chin Technology & Information Management
Zoe Nenya Chin *¹ Marine Biology
Ria Chockalingam * Computer Science
Harry Chou Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Albert Chung Environmental Studies and History of Art & Visual Culture
Elijah Miles Church Environmental Studies
Ethan Morgan Clark Computer Science
Moira Clark Ecology & Evolution
Maximilian Volker Claus ³ Theater Arts and Marine Biology
Samuel David Clem-Whiting History
Kaitlyn Marie Collings Literature
Jackson T. Collins Film & Digital Media and Psychology
Suzanne Comparan Business Management Economics
Dominic Gabriel Constantz Ecology & Evolution
Adrian Contreras Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Sailor Bean Cook Ecology & Evolution
Sophie Cooper ¹ Cognitive Science
Jamilet Coronel Sociology
Pablo Cortes Economics and Film & Digital Media
Kevin Cortez-Rosete Environmental Studies
Blaede Takahiro Tamo Macaulay Court-Suzuki Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Caden Crowell Computer Science
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Julian Alexander Crown Legal Studies and Sociology
Luca Orlando Cuppoletti Biology
James Alan Curtiss Environmental Sciences
Mikaela Tiangson Dacanay Computer Science
Elijah Grey Dalley Art
Sophia Danielle Dambrosio Psychology
Dominique Daubenbis Politics
Leah Kit Dautoff 4 Literature
Jackson Christopher Dawson Cognitive Science
Casey Day *4 History
Dani Arwen Dayao Critical Race & Ethnic Studies and History of Art & Visual Culture
Andrew Nate Santos de Guzman Education, Democracy & Justice and Psychology
Victoria De Vito Education, Democracy & Justice
Natalie Tokiwa Decena Psychology
Markus Dietrich Dehorn Environmental Studies/Economics
Bailey Nathan Del Real Art & Design: Games & Playable Media and Literature
Brian Delinela Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Giulietta Judy Demitri Chemistry
Naz Dickerson *4 Literature
Mesa Hurley Diehl Linguistics
Tobin Diep Business Management Economics
Nicole Lauren Diner Psychology
Rina Dmytrenko Cognitive Science
William Parrish Dodson 4 Business Management Economics
Matthew Harold Dollman *4 Politics
James Ellis Mae Donaldson * History
Maggie Dougherty Art
Veronika Ann Douglas Education, Democracy & Justice
Blake Damon Dringenberg Theater Arts
Saoirse Duncan Linguistics
Naila Durakovic Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jennifer Duran Film & Digital Media
Niko Novales Dvorsky Business Management Economics
Malee Dye Linguistics
Lukas Edelberg 4 Art
Liam Glenn Edwards Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Matias Thomas Edwards Biology
Sophia Elizabeth Egli Anthropology
Gage T. Elias-Pomaville Film & Digital Media
Kasra Emadi Psychology
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Stefani Taylor England Sociology
Ezra Ennis-Fink Agroecology
Sandy Adylene Enriquez Literature
Hasina Mezhgan Esteqlal Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Samina Marjan Esteqlal Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Erik Estrada Legal Studies
Yaritza Estrada *4 Psychology
Arianna Fabian *4
General Psychology and Education, Democracy, & Justice
Bug Fantham Theater Arts
Emma Claire Faszer History of Art & Visual Culture
Emily Nicole Feller Psychology
Jonah Fernandez Sociology
Isabel Ferraz Linguistics and Politics
Riley Conlin Fink Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Michael Daniel Gerard Fischer-Haagens *4 Music
Daniel Scott Fisher History of Art & Visual Culture and Theater Arts
Ella Sharon Fisher Anthropology
Martin Christopher Flores Economics / Mathematics
Victoria Guadalupe Flores Cognitive Science
Dylan Ford Robotics Engineering
Ethan Ford History
Edison Forster Technology & Information Management
Ethan William Foster Computer Science
Eduardo Francisco Mathematics
Andrew Franco Cognitive Science
Kaleigh Rae Franco Psychology and Sociology
Nicholas Franklin Economics
Eduardo Frausto Rodriguez Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Noah Yanic Fridman Computer Science
Lily Frohlich *4 Global & Community Health
Cristina Juliana Fruehan-Vergara Art
Mia Fuentes Latin American & Latino Studies and Psychology
Ethan Anderson Fuller Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Eric Funchess Cognitive Science
Ava Rebecca Gabriel Biology
Hailey Leann Garber Computer Science
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Deveny Nicole Garcia Philosophy
Eli Aliyah Garcia Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Elise Rose Garcia 4 Art and History of Art & Visual Culture
Joseph Garcia * Biomolecular Engineering & Bioinformatics
Tristan Garcia Computer Science
Carlos Garcia-Guerrero Biomolecular Engineering & Bioinformatics
Isaac Thomas Garfinkel Film & Digital Media
Chancee Elliott Gaskin Environmental Sciences
Caleb Gaspar Pineda Mathematics Theory & Computation
Zoe Genolio Earth Sciences
Haze Brodie George *4 Literature
Ava Reece Gerber
Education, Democracy & Justice
Audrey Nichole Gilbert Art
Conor Christopher Glynn Literature
Yali Goldstein Computer Science
Presley William Golling Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniella Gomez Sociology
Genesis Leonor Gomez 4 Sociology
Shikai Gong Psychology
Brianna Yesenia Gonzalez Cognitive Science
Jared Michael Gonzalez Theater Arts
Natalie Lauren Gooch Music
Titus Noan Goodman Music
Yukina Grady Sociology
Brianna Lynn Greene Human Biology
Declan Eliot Greicius Art
Carter Gruebel Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Ella Guagenti Business Management Economics
Esme Maria Guerrero Art
Gerardo Guerrero Garcia Business Management Economics
Jonathan Dale Guité 4 Computer Science
Andrew Robert Gunderman Politics
Annika Hagen Ecology & Evolution
Carolee Elizabeth Hagey Art
Cassidy Victoria Hall Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Akira Hamada Business Management Economics
Juniper Kim Hancock Anthropology
Lillibelle Anastasia Hanes History
Elise Marie Hansen Art
Gabrielle Hardman *4
Education, Democracy & Justice
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Ian Howard Harker
Computer Science
Kyler G. Harris Computer Science
Sloane Harris History of Art & Visual Culture
Elissa Marie Hartman Psychology
Tieran Joy Harvey Film & Digital Media
Katya Haskin
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Alexandra Hatalsky 4 Computer Science
Lou Havstad Literature
Abigale Fayeth Hawthorn Applied Physics and Earth Sciences
Kris Anne Hazelton Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology
Savannah He Economics
Ethan Heffan 4
Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Taylor Neo Heffington Computer Science
Ridley Skye Heltai Earth Sciences
Jonathan Dane Heraz Community Studies
Catherine Hermann Sociology
Jose Hernandez Business Management Economics
Katherine Gabriela Hernandez Politics
Mark-Anthony Saul Hernandez Film & Digital Media
Naydelin Hernandez Sociology
Tatiana Hernandez Environmental Sciences
Sara Elizabeth Hester Psychology and Cognitive Science
Teah Hiltbrand-Livoni Earth Sciences
Gracia Natali Hmelar Literature
Delphi Elizabeth Holbrook Sociology
Lillian Jade Holloway Literature
Ana Hom Biology
Kevin V.H. Hong
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Meg Hoops Education, Democracy & Justice
Micaela Anne House Bertinetti Electrical Engineering
Alexis Christina Huang *4
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Elise Y. Huang * Human Biology
Emily Huang Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology
Yifeng Huang Art and Sociology
Saoirse Hulne Anthropology
Nolan Alexander Hunt Art
Henry Rain Hurd
Jason Davis Hutchins
Education, Democracy & Justice
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media and History
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Elijah Hynson 4
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Sydney Nicole Ignacio Environmental Sciences
Anna Iliaieva Physics (Astrophysics)
Bryan Udom In Computer Science
Tiernan Inich Bonifassi 4 Film & Digital Media
Silvia Natalia Iniguez *4 Environmental Studies and Spanish Studies
Lucy Taylor Irwin Environmental Studies
Erin Islam Business Management Economics
Carly Rae Iversen Anthropology
Kyle Brinton Jack Literature
Paya Michelle Jacob-Hines Economics and Spanish Studies
Caden Grace Xaelah O'Connor Jacobs Robotics Engineering
Sidney Whittaker Jacobs Art
Julian Alec Jacobson Film & Digital Media
Byron Kao James Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Justin Jang Environmental Studies/Biology
Gabriel James Fuerte Jauregui Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Sophia Javaheri Politics
Dana Jeffs Robotics Engineering
Ashton Allen Jenkins Sociology
Molly Jenkins Economics and Applied Mathematics
Peter McArthur Jensen Ecology & Evolution
Charlie Jia Applied Mathematics
Virginia June Johnson Physics (Astrophysics)
January Lucia Johnston ³ Literature
Arabella Gloria Dungca Jones Psychology and Cognitive Science
Dash Django Jones Music
Jalyssa Jones Global & Community Health and Sociology
Lia Jones Psychology and Global & Community Health
Joaquin Kai Jorgensen Environmental Studies/Biology
Joanna Nicole Juarez Legal Studies
Marisol Juarez Ortiz Literature
Ruby Yunseul Jung *¹ Literature
Tae Hyun Jung Applied Mathematics
Hailey Grace Kafer ¹ Theater Arts
Stephanie Anne Yen Kahane Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Chloe Patricia Kahling History of Art & Visual Culture and Psychology
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Emerson R. Kapture
Tomoya Kato
Music and Psychology
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Ringo Isaac Kawamura Philosophy
Hailey Jane Kearsley Politics and Cognitive Science
Delaney Renee Keel 4 Biology and Psychology
Ava Noelle Keene Psychology
Ken Kennedy
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media and Education, Democracy, & Justice
Kristen Elizabeth Kennedy Film & Digital Media
Illyanna Lisette Kinney Psychology
Max Kirkhope 4
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Killian Rose Kiuttu ³ Linguistics
Helene Marie Kleinfeld Film & Digital Media
Rose Elise Kleinfeld Politics
Paris Renee Klier 4 Art
Mira Land Knowles 4 Earth Sciences and Mathematics Theory & Computation
Sophie Kochevar Film & Digital Media
Ainsley E. Kohli Film & Digital Media
Laszlo Gray Koroleff Computer Engineering
Lily Krause Education, Democracy & Justice
Karyssa Krebs Cognitive Science
Sadie Josephine Krier Environmental Studies
Karlyn Victoria Kromhout Marine Biology
Jayo Kuo
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Ellie Hazel Kuskie Ecology & Evolution
Aidan Don Ladenburg Computer Science
Celeste Lea Lagrange 4 Theater Arts
Noa Lahan 4 Computer Science
Derrick Lai Robotics Engineering
Cherry Lalina *¹ Psychology
Alan Lam Computer Science
Nathan Du Lam
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Elizabeth Jean Lamb Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology
Tabitha Fay Lamberg History
Reya Frances Langen Environmental Studies
William Gregory Lanz Music
Marina Elena Le Grue
Literature
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Nikkie Lee
Mei Lin Lee-Stahr *4
Alaina Leghart
Biology and Education, Democracy, & Justice
Film & Digital Media
Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Isabella Mari Lao Lepatan Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology
Ethan Matthew Lepe
Josh Daniel Levano
Andrew Monroe Lewins 4
Literature and Theater Arts
Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Art and Economics
Julian Carr Lewis Legal Studies and Music
LokWai Dorothy Li Art and Business Management Economics
Xin Li Technology & Information Management
Zihua Li Computer Science
Lynn Liang Economics
Jifei Liu Economics and Mathematics Theory & Computation
Rob Lodes Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Marti Elizabeth Logan Earth Sciences
Gavin Miles Lohuis Environmental Studies
Noah Long History
Areli Edith Lopez Global & Community Health
Damaris Lopez Sociology
Nate Dillon Lopez Computer Science
Randy Lopez Computer Science
Ev Lopez Parada History of Art & Visual Culture
Chloe Lorain 4
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Angelina Losak Environmental Studies
Nico Lorenzo Lown Heitz 4
Art and Philosophy
Noe Loya-Barragan Computer Science
Joaquim Allen Drew Lozano Computer Science
Neo Lozano Anthropology and Education, Democracy, & Justice
Xuan Ru Luo
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Denise Machado Business Management Economics
Molly Penelope Maher ³ History and Psychology
Nicole Maldonado Art
Emmanuel Basinio Manalac Computer Science
Stephanie Mancilla Palomo Environmental Studies
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Samantha Lynn Manske Agroecology
Dillon Gregory Manvelian 4 Film & Digital Media
Matan Alexander Maoz * Sociology
Raquel Laice Mardones Psychology
Zachary Aaron Markowitz History
Lauren Park Martin Biology and Psychology
Daniel Martinez Computer Science
Gabriela Martinez Ecology & Evolution
Stephanie Mayo-Burgos Environmental Studies and Legal Studies
Fia Grace Mccord Art
Trinity McDevitt 4 Psychology and Cognitive Science
Andrew Montgomery McIntosh Cognitive Science
Ellie Mckay Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Carlyn Jo Mckean ³ Psychology
Jackson Jae Jun McLane ³ Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Sean Jaejin Mclane Computer Science
Violet Renee Mcnally Art
Ruby Dolan McQuie Film & Digital Media
Wyatt John Cooper Meade Environmental Studies/Economics
River Meadows Physics
Ana Megibben 4 Mathematics
Noa Davis Meister History of Art & Visual Culture
Naomi Melgoza Sociology
Annabelle Mendala Psychology
Isham Mendez Cognitive Science
Bianca Ysabel Canapi Menor Cognitive Science
Samuel Harmon Meyer Art & Design: Games & Playable Media and Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Santiago Meza Literature
Brandon Tony Miao Network & Digital Technology
Autania Rose Mierow-Schmitt Legal Studies and Sociology
Gabriel Mijares Psychology
James Henry Milestone Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Whittaker Rae Miller * Politics
Jessica Min Film & Digital Media
Bonifacio William Daniel Miranda Computer Engineering
Tanish Mishra Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Abi Mittelstedt 4 Psychology
Hiroyo Miura * Applied Linguistics & Multilingualism
Justin Satoshi Mizukura Ecology & Evolution
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Vanessa Mo
Cognitive Science
Jasmine Dawn Moffett Biology
Victor Ranulfo Molina Electrical Engineering
Anthony Jordan Mollé Computer Science: Computer Game Design
David Kenji Monaghan Environmental Studies
Mateo Hakanson Monsalve Technology & Information Management
Bobby Humphrey Montgomery Global & Community Health
Casey Moore Theater Arts and Ecology and Evolution
Jake Morgali Philosophy and Psychology
Caitlin Morgan Art and Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Samantha Ann Morrison Art and Education, Democracy, & Justice
Katherine Morrisroe Business Management Economics
Litzy Mozqueda-Franyutti History of Art & Visual Culture
Justin Muo Electrical Engineering
Leah Murray Literature and Politics
Hrishika Reddy Nanamala Applied Mathematics
Vibi Nandakumar Biomolecular Engineering & Bioinformatics
Aakaash Narayannan Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Bart Nayci History
Luna Necochea Plant Sciences
Cameron William Nelson Computer Engineering
Jacob Thomas Nelson Film & Digital Media
William J. Nelson Psychology
Alison Gabrielle Nesbitt *4 Art
Isabelle Brianni Newson Psychology
Ivan Valentino Augustus Newton Art & Design: Games & Playable Media and Film & Digital Media
Andrew Ng Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology
Jimmy An Nguyen Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Prisca Felicitas Niedermair *4 Global & Community Health
Daniel Nieto Education, Democracy & Justice and Sociology
Sanjay Christopher Nirula Music
Ezra Noe Applied Linguistics & Multilingualism
Jazmine Pearl Gutierrez Noguera 4 Film & Digital Media
Natalie Elise North Psychology and Cognitive Science
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Eli Nunez Economics / Mathematics
Marco Antonio Nuñez Agroecology and Economics
Romi Merary Ocadiz-Cruz Art and Film & Digital Media
Fernando Angel Ochoa Santiago Biology
Andrew Steven Oharra *³ Film & Digital Media
Jonathan O’Harra *³ Film & Digital Media
Ikenna Jason Ohiaeri
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Reyna Guadalupe Ojeda Perez Art
Amirah M. Okitukunda Cognitive Science
Philip Olay Electrical Engineering
Susanna Grace Oliver History
Aiden Olivier ³ Film & Digital Media
David Enoc Ordonez
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Nicole L. Ornelas Literature
Kristina Ou History of Art & Visual Culture
Calvin Owen Computer Engineering
Mia Liberty Pabros Environmental Studies
Regis Pak Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Thurmann Raphael Pangilinan ³ Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Andrés Paniagua Computer Science
Anika Marie Vodicka Paredes Art
Randee Desanka Pascual Film & Digital Media
Miguel R. Pastreich Environmental Studies/Biology
Paulina Esperanza Patiño Art
Xander Patnoe Music
William Riley Patterson Economics
Zoe Marie Cameron Payne Biology
Enrique Paz Gonzalez Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Miles Cole deFer Pearson Environmental Sciences
Danny Pedraza Film & Digital Media
Jude Peisner Politics
Emely Perales Computer Engineering
Isabella Marie Percy *4 Critical Race & Ethnic Studies
Brian Rafael Perez Computer Science
Nikolas Perez Linguistics
Tess Diana Perkins-Babinski Feminist Studies
Kylie Alyssa Pettis Film & Digital Media
Isabel Margaret Petty ¹ Psychology
Edward Hung Thang Pham ³ Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vanessa Pham Chemistry
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Damon-Hoa Thien Phan
Cognitive Science and Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Alyanna Marie Pilapil Chemistry
Irwin Yamilet Pineda-Sanchez Anthropology and Art
Tristan Aleksy Piotrowski Environmental Studies/Economics
Alondra Samantha Hernandez Polanco Games + Playable Media
Chaylin Elise Panes Polines Art and Film & Digital Media
Jose Maximiliano Ponssa Psychology
Jackson Harper Pruett * Literature
Yesenia Joanna Puga Computer Engineering
Shrena Punj Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology
Zhongbin Qiu Computer Science
Sofia Isabel Quant History of Art & Visual Culture
Michael G. Quinn 4
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media and Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Cynthia Natalia Ramirez Art
Emily June Ramirez Film & Digital Media
Sara Ramirez * Psychology and Spanish Studies
Serena Lynne Ramirez ² Critical Race & Ethnic Studies and Psychology
Melina Graciela Ramos Literature
Sarah Elizabeth Randisi Film & Digital Media
Alette Sashi Rangel Politics
Jack Lincoln Rappard History
Alexander Joseph Rathjen Neuroscience
Alexis Ravenscroft Anthropology
Swetha Ravisankar Biology
Clementine Lila Magnolia Ray *4 Literature
Lilly Barbara Reed Literature
Allon Ramiro Rees-Ramirez
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Kristen Regalado Technology & Information Management
Mariah Regalado Electrical Engineering
Nico Lucienne Reicher Psychology
Malia Marion Reid History of Art & Visual Culture
Warin Nod Reiwtavee Biology
Clare Therese Reyes *4 Biomolecular Engineering & Bioinformatics
Jordan Reyes Applied Mathematics
Prema Reyes 4 History of Art & Visual Culture
Andres Ricardez Biotechnology
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Graham C. Rice Earth Sciences
Jacob Paul Anthony Richardson Business Management Economics
Evelyn Ricker Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Chloe Ivy Rifkin Education, Democracy & Justice
Andrew Torres Ring Biotechnology
Nicole Jazmin Rios Biology
Nathan Ripp Psychology
Essau Amir Zuberi Robins-Bilal Theater Arts
SamTaylor Robinson Theater Arts
Soroya Robinson * Business Management Economics
Damian Anthony Robles Film & Digital Media
Alexander Peter Rochelle Computer Engineering and Robotics Engineering
Alex Rodriguez Computer Science
Juan Luis Rodriguez Legal Studies and Philosophy
Mia Kiana Rodriguez Literature
McKenna Rogers History of Art & Visual Culture
Alex Andrew Rodriguez Rojas Computer Engineering
Zaid Nemesis Rojas Business Management Economics
Erick Alexander Romero Anthropology
Bella Esmeralda Rosales Castillo Music and Psychology
Lindsey Elyse Rose Anthropology
Emeline Rebeckah Ross Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Luisa Jane Rounds ³ Linguistics
Alex Michael Rovner Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Andrea Rubio Psychology
Courtney Brooke Rungaitis Psychology
Ava Lyn Rusch History of Art & Visual Culture
Kyla Grace Ryman Psychology
Rami Dafalla Saad Technology & Information Management
Kyler Chen Salameda 4 Theater Arts
Amalia Nayeli Sanchez Community Studies
Ivonne M. Sanchez 4 Art
Gaby Sandel Psychology
Lucais Zen Sanderson Computer Engineering
Jesus Alejandro Sandoval Preciado Film & Digital Media
Lauren Ana Sandoval Business Management Economics
Wilson Samuel Santos Estrada Film & Digital Media
Aditya Sarin Computer Science
Isabella Antoinette Sayegh Biology
Veronica Nicole Scanlon Psychology
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Milo Schechter Sociology
Shivani Scherp Ecology & Evolution
Nicholas A. Schetman *³ Art & Design: Games & Playable Media and Business Management Economics
Dani Schloss 4 Psychology
Drai Alexander Schmelzer Neuroscience
Kelly Yukiko Schoenstein Psychology
Ridley Jackson Schruers Business Management Economics
Alexis Rose Schulz Film & Digital Media
Claira Jane Scott Art
Dylan Mae Seidel Art
Anjolie Mirella Serna De Leon Art and History of Art & Visual Culture
Paulo Ramelau Sexton Sociology
Nicholas Matthew Shannon Business Management Economics
Jenna Summer Shapiro Psychology
Ally Jacelyn Shearer 4 Environmental Sciences
Jay Patrick Shepherd Film & Digital Media
Alexander Sherbrooke 4 Computer Science
Matthew Thomas Sherrier Literature
Finlay Sherris Watt Environmental Studies
Shayne Navid Shiralian Business Management Economics
Josh Hyunmin Shon Environmental Sciences
David Thomas Shonack Network & Digital Technology
Sam Robert Shroyer ³ Film & Digital Media
Sam C. Si 4 Robotics Engineering
Anita Ying Simon 4 Psychology
Liana Pappas Simonelli ² Art and Feminist Studies
Ari Sinervo Computer Science
Elina Pratap Singh Economics and Mathematics
Michael Skeim Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ava Rose Skupnik Marine Biology
Chloe Slack Feminist Studies
Doyle Earl Slape Marine Biology
Danielle Andrea Slaughter * Literature
Isaac Sandstrom Small Physics (Astrophysics)
Ailish Brid Smith Art and Critical Race & Ethnic Studies
Sean Eric So 4 Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Eric G. Soibelman Literature
Benjamin Sommer Linguistics and Sociology
Diego DeGuzman Soriano Business Management Economics
Jianne Soto
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Ryan Christopher Spaulding
Cognitive Science
Adam Pearce Spencer Politics
Napat Srichan
Computer Science
Graeme John O'Brien Stage ¹ Physics (Astrophysics)
Harrison James Standridge
Business Management Economics
Gavin Edward Stark Computer Science
Adam Starkman Cognitive Science
Samm Rosemerri Stayman
Emmabella Rose Steinbacher
Film & Digital Media
Film & Digital Media and Psychology
Mariel Steiner Microbology
Aidan Sterling 4
Computer Science: Computer Game Design and Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Naja Lane Steward 4 Environmental Studies
Grey Stoaks Marine Biology
Ella Elizabeth Storseter Biotechnology
Mira Streltsina
Global Economics
Emily Su Global Economics
Miguel Suarez-Hevia
Ian Suelter-Davison
Ichiro Jeffry Sugimoto
Emma Sophia Swalander ³
Jackson Jackson Sweat
Luan Ta
Vinh Ta ³
Ecology & Evolution
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Cognitive Science
Film & Digital Media
Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Sabrina Lauren Tabiu Biology
Cole Mikio Takara
Cognitive Science
Cameron Nicholas Talei Anthropology
Wan Lee Tan
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Elizaveta Taranova Linguistics
Jonah Walker Teitz
Film & Digital Media
Yafi Thai Robotics Engineering
Julia Josephine Thomas Environmental Studies and Psychology
Gonzalo Jesus Tiscareno
Anna Toledo
Jason Torres
Electrical Engineering
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Yazmin Torres Roque
Christiane Areli Tran
Julia Tran
Global & Community Health
Business Management Economics
Business Management Economics
Isabella Maria Feiyin Trask Environmental Studies/Biology
Gabrielle Trigo Psychology
Mai Tsuyuzaki Neuroscience
Joshua Joseph Vaillancourt Computer Science: Computer Game Design
David Andres Valenzuela-Peterson Art
Christopher Michaell Valladares Computer Science
Nick Van Daele 4 Mathematics
Syd Morgan Van Dorn Marine Biology
Jude Van Dusen Sociology
Dacia Isabella Van Wormer * Linguistics and Cognitive Science
Katrina Ya Li Vanarsdale * Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Alyssa Vang Psychology
Alex E. Vargas 4 Film & Digital Media
Johnathan Xavier Vargas Film & Digital Media and Philosophy
Raul Armani Vazquez Film & Digital Media
Sheccid Vazquez 4 Psychology
Roselyn Heidi Vazquez-Ramirez Global & Community Health
Valentina Veronique Velazquez Anthropology and History of Art & Visual Culture
Kyle Joaquin Vergara Politics
Elenes Elenes Vilchis Environmental Studies/Economics Combined
Ella Josephine Villar *4 Critical Race & Ethnic Studies and History of Art & Visual Culture
Alejandro Vincent Sociology
Michelle Vo History
Samson Edward Volker Physics (Astrophysics)
Shai Voskoboynik Global & Community Health
Hayden Wagner Legal Studies
Brynn Walther Global & Community Health
Evelyn Ware 4 Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Adrian Warren * Art & Design: Games & Playable Media and Cognitive Science
Garrett Steven Waterbury Bioengineering
Jessie Watkins Film & Digital Media
Veronika Marie Watkins Marine Biology
Kira Moung Way
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Lila Louisa Weber 4 Chemistry
Hunter Corsaro Wedaa Art and Psychology
Noah Samuel Weiss Film & Digital Media
Alan Huajun Wen Global Economics
Xiaoying Wen Chemistry
Rebekah Ireland Westgate History of Art & Visual Culture
Erin Weston Psychology
Evelyn Mary Wheeler Linguistics
Beatrice Rose White Sociology
Jewels Elizabeth White * Politics
Gabriel R. Whitten
Nathan Avery Wiinikka
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Sarah Wild Environmental Studies
Adrien Isaiah Williams Film & Digital Media
Athena Williams 4 Mathematics
Stone Daniel Williams Literature
Alex Wilson Agroecology
Andrew Arthur Wilson Philosophy
Michael Lee Wines Economics
Sage Sparrow Wisner Art
Delia Michelle Wondoloski *³ Psychology
Carlos Oswald Wong History of Art & Visual Culture and Psychology
Justin Wong Computer Engineering
Rita Jonae Woodruff ² Ecology & Evolution
Amani Mai Woods *4 Psychology
Alden Woronicz
Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Christine Joy Worthington Anthropology
AJ Wright Anthropology
Christian Scott Wylie Computer Science
Justin Xu
Sean Huey Yabut
Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Morgan Yacullo Environmental Studies/Biology
Daniel Andrey Yankin Biomolecular Engineering & Bioinformatics
Elias Luke Yasui Film & Digital Media
Christian Ycaro Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aaron Yuchen Ye Robotics Engineering
Heather Yee 4 History
Amelia Mae York Film & Digital Media
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Conferred Spring 2025
Ethan Harry Yoshino
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media and Computer Science
Duo Yu Computer Engineering
Eros Yuan 4
Art & Design: Games & Playable Media
Yunhui Zeng Art
Evie Zhang Psychology
Yiheng Zhang Computer Science
Simon Hong Zhao *4 Computer Science
Jay Zhu Computer Science
Katie Danielle Zieff Theater Arts
Teia Morgan Ziegelman 4 Art
Greg Ziegler Electrical Engineering
Jose Hugo Zuniga Global & Community Health
Sophia Josephine Zuzga * Ecology & Evolution
Inclusion in this commencement program and participation in the Porter College Commencement Ceremony does not necessarily signify the completion of the Baccalaureate degree.
University Honors
( 1) Summa cum Laude, “with highest distinction”, signifies graduate standing in the top 2% of their class.
( 2) Magna cum Laude, “with great distinction”, signifies graduate standing the top 5% of their class.
( 3) Cum Laude, “with distinction”, signifies graduate standing in the top 15% of their class.
( 4) Candidate for University Honors. Graduating seniors who may be awarded Honors after spring quarter are noted in this program as “Candidate for University Honors”.
Nominated for Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa is a national honor society that advances scholarship and recognizes excellence in the liberal arts and sciences.
The UC Santa Cruz chapter was established in 1985.
“ * ” Indicates student nominated for Phi Beta Kappa membership
Dean’s & Chancellor Awards
Division of the Arts
Titus Noan Goodman
Celeste Lea Lagrange
Dean’s Award
Dean's Award
Prema Reyes Dean's Award
Titus Noan Goodman
Ella Josephine Villar
Dean's Award
Dean's Award
Division of the Humanities
Molly Penelope Maher
Ella Josephine Villar
Annice Cecil
Grey Stoaks
Dean’s & Chancellor Award
Dean’s & Chancellor Award
Physical & Biological Sciences
Dean’s Award
Dean's Award
Syd Morgan Van Dorn
Dean's Award
Division of Social Sciences
Matthew Harold Dollman
Dean’s Award
Baskin School of Engineering
Joseph Garcia
Dean's Award
Vibi Nandakumar Dean's Award
Clare Therese Reyes Dean's Award
Daniel Andrey Yankin
Dean's Award
Elise Y. Huang
Koret Scholars
Optimization of clinical tumor RNA sequencing assay for synovial sarcoma
Vanessa Pham
Building the Capacity to Measure Mercury Stable Isotopes for Understanding Mercury Dynamics in Coastal Ecosystem
Serena Lynne Ramirez The Impact of Habitat for Humanity Housing on Psychological Well-Being and Family Dynamics
Ari Sinervo Mapping Information Flow in Human Brain Tissue
Naja Lane Steward Special Economic Zones and Land Grabbing in Transitioning Governments: the Cases of Laos and Myanmarn
Porter College Service Award
The College Service Award is given to graduating seniors who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and commitment to the Porter College and UCSC communities.
Angela Ambriz Auggie Apodaca
Pete Barajas Madisen Berry
McKenna Berry Alex Beteta
Alyssa Cabral Adrian Contreras
Mia Fuentes Katherine Hernandez
Micaela House Justin Jang
Lia Jones Ken Ann Kennedy
Noa Lahan
Alaina Leghardt
Trinity McDevitt Gabriel Mijares
Bonifacio Miranda Zoe Payne
Jude Peisner Emily Ramirez
Serena Ramirez Clare Reyes
Alex Rodriguez Alex Rojas
Finlay Sherris Watt Elina Singh
Anna Toledo Sheccid Vazquez
Elenes Vilchis Adrian Warren
Greg Zeigler
In Memoriam
We remember Porter’s longtime Provost the renowned composer and AI music pioneer David Cope for his unflagging devotion to UCSC students from all walks of life. So beloved was he that, some 40 years ago, each graduating senior presented Provost Cope with his favorite beverage—a can of Mountain Dew—as they walked across the stage. The Provost cheerfully stacked them all next to the diplomas. We celebrate David Cope’s memory.
Porter College would like to acknowledge and thank Taylor DeGiovanni, Kristin Palma, and the staff in University Advancement who coordinated this weekend of celebrations, and the College and University Staff and volunteers staff who made it possible.
Congratulations Porter College Class of 2025!
