News

Genesis de Maria Contreras has been selected as the student commencement speaker for the class of 2024. A psychology major from Long Island, Contreras has been involved in a wide range of academic, club and athletic activities during her time on the Heights. 

Among her many interests, she has served as the president for both the Ritmo Tropical and Spanish Club, and has also been involved with El Progreso for four years. She received the Cura Personalis Award in Student Development and the Deans List Senior Recipient Award this year. She has hosted dance workshops on behalf of Ritmo Tropical, which included teaching different styles of dance from other parts of Latin American and the Caribbean, and hosted Spanish speaking workshops to make students aware of what type of dialects spoken by different Latin American speakers. 

A resident advisor, she has taken school-sanctioned trips to St. Louis, San Francisco and New York City, and served as a volunteer intern at the Elmcrest Children’s Center. Contreras has also been a member of the cross country/track and field team and played on the club rugby and lacrosse teams.

“As a first-generation student, I understand the significance of this moment, and I commend each and every one of you for your incredible resilience and perseverance throughout our unique college experience,” said Contreras. “Despite facing unprecedented challenges, we have grown together, supported each other, and made the most of our situation. As we prepare to embark on the next chapter of our lives, I want to remind you of the incredible potential that lies within each of us and the positive impact we can make on the world around us."