Grads Take on Life After ESU

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on May 1, 2017, 4 Comments

On May 5 and 6 a total of 1,176 students will graduate from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. Many will begin the next step in their life’s journey by attending graduate or professional school or starting a new career.

Meet four students who are taking their Warrior Spirit with them as they leap into the world.

Christian Colon will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. He came to ESU from Bethlehem, Pa. on a full academic scholarship. He is a member of Theta Chi Fraternity, president of the political science club, and co-captain of the Frederick Douglass Debate society. He has organized events for the political science club and debate team and participated in Global Week and other events on campus throughout year. He has also been a member of student senate, the ESU football team, and the rugby team. This semester, Colon had some of his biggest achievements. He attended The Osgood Center for International Studies Presidential Inauguration Program, placed second in the Frederick Douglass statewide debate tournament, and presented his research on “How Experiential Learning Enhances Learning in Political Science” at the International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Science Studies at Harvard University in Boston, Mass. At the time of this release, Colon has been accepted to four law schools: West Virginia University, Duquesne University, Drexel University and Widener University Delaware Law School.

Blaise Delfino from Bethlehem, Pa., earned a Bachelor of Science in speech-language pathology from ESU in 2014. After graduating he worked for his family’s audiological practice, enhancing his knowledge and skills before returning to ESU to pursue a master’s degree in communication sciences and disorders. He has invented an earplug he describes as the “world’s first adjustable earplug.” He called his invention “Fader Plugs,” wrote a business plan and entered and won the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Business Plan Competition in 2016. He also won the TecBridge 2017 Business Plan Competition. Fader Plugs is the first company of its kind to release and hold a patent for adjustable earplugs. Delfino was also selected as the graduate student speaker for ESU’s spring 2017 graduate commencement ceremony.

Kimberly Raberio will graduate with a double major in hotel, restaurant, and tourism management and Spanish. Raberio, from Saddle Brook, N.J., did an internship with a restaurant group in Spain as part of a study abroad opportunity. This opportunity helped her become fluent in Spanish and gave her hands-on experience in hospitality. Rabeiro shared her internship experience with a representative from Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center who visited one of her classes as a guest speaker. This Kalahari rep was so impressed that he created a part-time position for her as part of the company’s human resources/recruitment department. In January she traveled with the company to Puerto Rico for a job fair. She handled interviewing job seekers in Spanish and was able to give feedback to improve the process. At the resort properties she is the main contact between Spanish speaking employees and upper management. After graduation Rabeiro will go to Kalahari headquarters in Wisconsin to explore other opportunities to travel on behalf of the company for recruitment trips.

Melanie Silvestrini is a native of East Stroudsburg. She decided to attend ESU for the small class sizes, and staying close to home was an added bonus for her. She will graduate with a dual major in biochemistry and chemical biotechnology. She credits the prerequisites for both majors for helping her obtain knowledge in the fields of biology, chemistry and physics – all necessary when applying to dental school. Silvestrini was a member of the pre-med club, Alpha Omicron Pi, Order of the Omega and Alpha Sigma Pi. She conducted undergraduate research in the fields of biology and chemistry and was an organic chemistry tutor. Silvestrini was accepted into five dental schools: New York University, Temple University, Nova Southeastern University and Tufts University. She plans to attend Tufts this fall.