Two members of the Class of 2019 earned the distinction of salutatorian, or the second highest grade point average in the class.
Lisa Gu
Hometown: Marlboro, N.J.
Major: Computer Engineering
Activities: SWE, EAN, Robotics Crew, TBP, ODK, IEEE-HKN
Favorite class: Joy of Electronics with Professor Hedrick. At the time, I was not sure what I wanted to major in, and this class helped me make up my mind. There is no other class where I learned so much and had fun doing it. We did everything from burning resistors to building our own mini radios. It was also a class I really struggled in as I never had exposure to engineering previously, but Professor Hedrick helped immensely. It ultimately taught me perseverance, which served me well through all four years at Union.
What I’ll miss most: My friends and professors and the positive, encouraging and supportive Union learning environment.
Advice for incoming students: Reach out and take advantage of all the opportunities at Union, but don’t let academics and athletics overwhelm you. College is more than just the grades you get – it is also about the people you meet and the experiences you make with them. Four years are going to fly by and you want to have something other than class to look back and remember.
Life after Union: I’m taking a gap year to work as a medical scribe and spend time with family in China. Then I am planning to attend medical school.
Marc Perlman
Hometown: Roslyn, N.Y.
Major: Biology and Economics Interdepartmental Major – Leadership in Medicine Program
Activities: Restaurant columnist for Concordiensis, economics tutor, intern for the Home Care Association of NY, Ethics Bowl Team, Healthcare Conference ambassador, ambassador for Doctorpreneurs, Behavioral Economics Research
Favorite class: Mind of the Entrepreneur with Hal Fried. This class transformed the way I think about the world. Hal encouraged us to step out of our comfort zone with assignments like “start a business over the weekend” and “interview 15 random people around campus about problems they face.” Hel inspired me to adopt an imaginative approach to problem solving.
What I'll miss most: The intimacy of Union’s tight-knit and interconnected community
Advice for incoming students: These four years are a time to unleash your curiosity. You should challenge yourself with a diverse course load to gain exposure to a wide range of fields. Apply the skills you learn across disciplines to reexamine status quos, set precedents and question boldly.
Life after Union: Albany Medical College Class of 2023 and co-hosting a radio show reviewing restaurants in Albany