Valedictorian Earns 4.0 GPA
Michelle Miller
Issue date: 4/26/07 Section: News
Utica College has announced Elizabeth Hyer as this year's valedictorian. Hyer is a chemistry major who graduated in December with all As while at UC.
Hyer has maintained perfection all while being what most would call a "nontraditional student." Hyer began her educational journey right after high school, like most students do, at the University of Rochester. However, she said she "just was not ready to settle down and study at that point," so she left school to work and travel. Hyer had been out of school for five years when she decided to go back to college. She was working full-time for a company that had a tuition reimbursement program, so she decided to take a class at UC.
"I decided to take a class for credit and intellectual stimulation. That first semester I took a core class. I believe it was psychology 101," Hyer said.
Hyer decided to become a full-time student at UC when she had her son, Raymond Davis Savarese III, who is now almost 5 years old. Hyer said, "Having him changed my whole perspective and gave me motivations to settle down and seek an education and a career, for both myself and him. When he was a year old, I started at UC part-time for the first semester or two and worked up to full-time."
Hyer plans to continue her education and go onto graduate school. However, she just had her second son, Richard Evan Savarese, who was born on April 9 weighing 7 pounds 4 and 1/2 ounces, so she has had to put graduate school on hold for now. Hyer does not seem to mind though, as she said she has been "blessed" with a newborn.
"Balancing a full-time school schedule with motherhood and family life often feels like a juggling act, so I have really been enjoying staying home with my fiancée and son since I graduated in December," Hyer said.
She says she is not sure when she will go to graduate school. Hyer said she thinks she might work in the chemistry field first to help her get a better idea of what area she would like to specialize in. Hyer's goal academically is to earn a PhD in some area of chemistry or physics once her children are older.
Hyer is relieved that she will not have to make a speech at commencement. She said she had to give a speech at her high school graduation and she was so nervous about it that she didn't think she was able to "properly enjoy the ceremony." Hyer admitted that public speaking is not her strong point.
Getting an A in every class while at UC involved a lot of hard work, according to Hyer. However, she said she enjoys learning and said this is what makes it easier for her to keep her grades up. Hyer said she has always done well academically, but she said she was not always as committed to her studies as she has been at UC. Hyer said being UC's valedictorian is a great honor for her.
"I can't say enough about UC and what a wonderful experience it has been for me," she said. "For me to be able to represent such a great school as valedictorian is incredible."
When compared to Rochester University, Hyer said the best thing about UC is the amount of interaction that she was able to have with professors.
"I will miss the professors, especially the chemistry professors at UC the most," she said." Despite their full schedules, they have always made time for me and other students. The professors here have helped me immeasurably with their knowledge and experience, both in academics and in life."
Even with all As, Hyer found the classes at UC challenging. She said some classes were more challenging than others, but she feels she has certainly been challenged by the classes she has taken at UC. Hyer said the hardest classes that she had to take at UC were physical chemistry and advanced organic chemistry. Hyer said there are a handful of professors that have been "amazing" influences for her at UC.
She said Dr. William Pfeiffer, Dr. Curtis Pulliam, Dr. Sharon Kanfoush, and Dr. Harold Pier are among the most important. However, she said there are two professors without whom she might not have graduated: her research advisor, Dr. Linda Dake and Dr. Michele Boucher. She said their encouragement helped her get through a pregnant and chaotic final semester.
Get to Know Hyer:
Where she lives: She just moved to Ilion in December. Before that, she commuted to UC from Holland Pattent.
Activities involved in at UC: She is a member of the American Chemical Society and presented research at poster sessions at geology and chemistry conferences.
Activities involved in outside UC: Hiking
Favorite color: Purple
Favorite food: Anything Italian and cheesy.
Favorite sport: Hockey
Favorite television show: "House"
Favorite book: Cannot possibly pick a favorite.
Favorite type of music: Bluegrass
Hyer has maintained perfection all while being what most would call a "nontraditional student." Hyer began her educational journey right after high school, like most students do, at the University of Rochester. However, she said she "just was not ready to settle down and study at that point," so she left school to work and travel. Hyer had been out of school for five years when she decided to go back to college. She was working full-time for a company that had a tuition reimbursement program, so she decided to take a class at UC.
"I decided to take a class for credit and intellectual stimulation. That first semester I took a core class. I believe it was psychology 101," Hyer said.
Hyer decided to become a full-time student at UC when she had her son, Raymond Davis Savarese III, who is now almost 5 years old. Hyer said, "Having him changed my whole perspective and gave me motivations to settle down and seek an education and a career, for both myself and him. When he was a year old, I started at UC part-time for the first semester or two and worked up to full-time."
Hyer plans to continue her education and go onto graduate school. However, she just had her second son, Richard Evan Savarese, who was born on April 9 weighing 7 pounds 4 and 1/2 ounces, so she has had to put graduate school on hold for now. Hyer does not seem to mind though, as she said she has been "blessed" with a newborn.
"Balancing a full-time school schedule with motherhood and family life often feels like a juggling act, so I have really been enjoying staying home with my fiancée and son since I graduated in December," Hyer said.
She says she is not sure when she will go to graduate school. Hyer said she thinks she might work in the chemistry field first to help her get a better idea of what area she would like to specialize in. Hyer's goal academically is to earn a PhD in some area of chemistry or physics once her children are older.
Hyer is relieved that she will not have to make a speech at commencement. She said she had to give a speech at her high school graduation and she was so nervous about it that she didn't think she was able to "properly enjoy the ceremony." Hyer admitted that public speaking is not her strong point.
Getting an A in every class while at UC involved a lot of hard work, according to Hyer. However, she said she enjoys learning and said this is what makes it easier for her to keep her grades up. Hyer said she has always done well academically, but she said she was not always as committed to her studies as she has been at UC. Hyer said being UC's valedictorian is a great honor for her.
"I can't say enough about UC and what a wonderful experience it has been for me," she said. "For me to be able to represent such a great school as valedictorian is incredible."
When compared to Rochester University, Hyer said the best thing about UC is the amount of interaction that she was able to have with professors.
"I will miss the professors, especially the chemistry professors at UC the most," she said." Despite their full schedules, they have always made time for me and other students. The professors here have helped me immeasurably with their knowledge and experience, both in academics and in life."
Even with all As, Hyer found the classes at UC challenging. She said some classes were more challenging than others, but she feels she has certainly been challenged by the classes she has taken at UC. Hyer said the hardest classes that she had to take at UC were physical chemistry and advanced organic chemistry. Hyer said there are a handful of professors that have been "amazing" influences for her at UC.
She said Dr. William Pfeiffer, Dr. Curtis Pulliam, Dr. Sharon Kanfoush, and Dr. Harold Pier are among the most important. However, she said there are two professors without whom she might not have graduated: her research advisor, Dr. Linda Dake and Dr. Michele Boucher. She said their encouragement helped her get through a pregnant and chaotic final semester.
Get to Know Hyer:
Where she lives: She just moved to Ilion in December. Before that, she commuted to UC from Holland Pattent.
Activities involved in at UC: She is a member of the American Chemical Society and presented research at poster sessions at geology and chemistry conferences.
Activities involved in outside UC: Hiking
Favorite color: Purple
Favorite food: Anything Italian and cheesy.
Favorite sport: Hockey
Favorite television show: "House"
Favorite book: Cannot possibly pick a favorite.
Favorite type of music: Bluegrass
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