Text Box: A serious look quickly followed by a bright, bright smile clearly characterizes CSTEP Groups Leader and senior Shirley Obioha. The biology /pre-med major is very serious about her studies, and her many times on the Dean’s List prove that. She is also the type of person who balances her study time with personal development and lighthearted fun which she finds in her active participation in no less than a dozen campus organizations and activities. A member of ODK, a Merit Scholar and multiple scholarship winner, Shirley has also been the Community Assistant of the Month. Continuing to be active on campus as a senior, Shirley just won a logo contest for energy saving. Text Box: Having completed internships that include a Minority Medical Education Program at Columbia University, a nephrology clinic, and hospital experience, Shirley says, “I gained experience in various settings and realized the importance of deciding to pursue a career in medicine.” Shirley will be in the Class of 2008 for SUNY Upstate Medical School, and as part of that she will be doing clinical work at SUNY Binghamton. She will go through the process with her close friend Toyin Showole. The daughter of two Nigerian chiefs—Louis and Francisca Obioha— Shirley hails from Mt. Vernon, NY, and has four younger siblings. Her Nigerian name is Text Box: Chinyere meaning God’s Gift because she was born close to Christmas. Shirley’s favorite professor is Dr. Tom Budd. “He always makes time for me and shows that he cares about my well being. He will truly be missed.” A Beta, Beta, Beta Biology Honorary member and a model of success all of her four years here, Shirley has some important words of wisdom: “Learn how to schedule yourself. One thing that you want to be able to do is have time for fun and relaxation, but remember why you are here . . .to get an education. There is so much you can learn in this school, you just have to be able to open your mind to it.” Text Box: Africana Students Organization, she will be going to Temple for her Ph. D. in the fall. Sara’s news is very exciting. She recently successfully defended her thesis and passed her qualifying exams for her Masters. She has been accepted to 8 mathematics Ph. D. programs around the United States. Six of the programs are offering her fellowships. Travis Atkinson was accepted at Text Box: Calls and emails from Malikah Ashby ‘99, Ivania Marinero ‘03, Minerva Arias ‘03, Candice Rowser ‘02 and Sara Morrison ‘00 have been welcomed. A recent visit with, Nona Mramba, Sara Morrison ‘00 and with Pedro Tejada ’03 was also very enjoyable. Be sure to read the insert about Candice. A Vice-President for the Graduate School Organization at SUNY Albany and President for the Text Box: Colorado State University to one of the finest graduate statistics programs in the US. Great job, Travis! Felicia Conde was accepted to Albany Law School. Congrats, Felicia! Debbie Henry was accepted to Marymount College for graduate work towards forensic psychology. Way to go, Debbie! Buddy Esther Ndungo was accepted into Albany Medical School. Cool beans, Esther! In the fall April Rolfe is going to Spain, Giselle Regino is going to London, and Gustavo Carrasco is going to Costa Rica for abroad programs. CONGRATS!!! Text Box: SENIOR FEATURE: SHIRLEY OBIOHA Text Box: MEMBER/ALUMNI NEWS BRIEFS Text Box: SENIOR FEATURE: TOYIN SHOWOLE Text Box: and internship experiences, Toyin has prepped herself for life after SLU—which includes being part of the Class of 2008 at SUNY Upstate Medical Center, which she will attend with her close friend Shirley Obioha. She will complete a two year stint of clinical rotations at SUNY Binghamton during that time. Toyin completed a Minority Medical Education Program internship at Columbia University and several other such experiences. During her internship with Dr. Harry Bramley, SLU Alumnus, she worked in the pediatric ward. “The best part of the internship was getting to wear the baby beeper. Whenever a woman was about to deliver, I was beeped as part of the delivery team . .. “ Text Box: Toyin was born in Nigeria and grew up in Canada before her family moved to New York. She has two older brothers and a younger sister. Toyin credits Dr. Karin Bodensteiner with being her favorite professor. She worked on research on ovarian follicles with Bodensteiner the summer of her first year here. A Beta, Beta Beta Biology Honorary member , Toyin reminds her peers to “make sure you have a couple of really close friends that you can count on. You are going to need them when it is time to celebrate and you are going to need them when it is time to cry. Most importantly, they will be there to help you keep going, and they’ll help you get you get out of bed on those days when you just want to sleep in and miss class.” Text Box: When Oluwatoyin (Toyin) Showole gives you her “look,” you know it will be followed by a roll of the eyes and a wide smile. It’s her trademark, and only this senior biology major and pre-med CSTEP Group Leader can pull it off with flair. If being selected ODK Leader of the year indicates her level of involvement at SLU, then being on Dean’s List and being a Presidential Diversity Scholar speaks a bit about the academic levels she has maintained. Toyin has put together a college experience that shows her academic excellence, her versatility and her leadership skills. Having completed numerous research Text Box: Page 2

WASSup?
Text Box: CONGRATULATIONS TO RANDY OLIVO!!! Randy was voted President of the Class of 2006!!

Shirley Obioha

Toyin Showole

DON’T FORGET TO RSVP TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL AWARDS RECEPTION on Wednesday, April 14 from 5 to 7.