Alfie Scholars Cohort 4 (2019)

About Cohort 4

Ernesto Chacon is seeking employment while he studies for the LSAT and prepares to apply to law school. Haley Cummins, a winter 2021 graduate, is a housing coordinator with World Relief Seattle. All four of the nursing students in Cohort 4 will soon start new positions. Lorra Hernon will work in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Seattle Children’s. Hailey McNalley is joining the Pediatric Burn Unit at Harborview Medical Center. Mariah Moreno is finishing the final quarter of her diagnostic ultrasound internship at St. Michael Medical Center. Adrian Nava has accepted a nursing residency, also with Harborview. In addition, he will begin his master of public health with George Washington University in January. Sophia Zandel has accepted an offer with Swedish First Hill as a labor and delivery nurse. Richard Pallangyo will soon start his role as a support engineer with Mindtree. Christiana Tembo is on campus this fall, completing her final class. This summer, she was an Asset Management Engineer Intern with Tacoma Power. Finally, Elizabeth Vargas is a master of social work student at Seattle University.

All of the Cohort 4 Alfies were members of at least one honor society during their career at Seattle University. 

This year’s graduates earned their degrees in a wide variety of disciplines: 1 in Biology, 1 in Computer Science, 1 in Diagnostic Ultrasound, 1 in Electrical Engineering, 4 in Nursing, 1 in Political Science, 1 in Social Work, and 1 in Strategic Communications.

The 10 Alfies of Cohort 4 graduated this academic year. In addition, Kaddy Suso of Cohort 3 graduated this year, having taken a leave of absence during the previous academic year. 

Like their predecessors, the scholars of Cohort 4 excelled academically and otherwise: 

  • Impressively, all of the Cohort 4 Alfies graduated with academic honors: 

    • Summa Cum Laude: Mariah Moreno, Adrian Nava, Elizabeth Vargas, and Sophia Zandel;

    • Magna Cum Laude: Haley Cummins and Hailey McNally; 

    • Cum Laude: Ernesto Chacón, Lorra Hernon, Richard Pallangyo, and Christiana Tembo.

  • Three received university-wide awards: 

    • Adrian Nava is the sixth Alfie to receive the Distinguished Graduating Student Award;

    • Lorra Hernon received the Spirit of Seattle U. Award; and 

    • Christiana Tembo received the Mission Award for Diversity. At the Graduating Students of Color Celebration, hosted by the university’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, she also received the Poder Award – Leadership & Action and the Building Bridges Award. 

  • In the Department of Social Work, Elizabeth Vargas received the Dr. Madeline Lovell Academic Excellence Award.  

Five Alfies were elected to nine leadership positions on campus: 

  • Haley Cummins served as Vice President of the Tau Sigma Honor Society. 

  • Lorra Hernon was Co-President of the Tri-Alpha First-Generation Honor Society. 

  • Adrian Nava served as the Vice President of Membership in the Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society, President of the BSN Transfer Class of 2021, Co-President of the Tri-Alpha First-Generation Honor Society, and Treasurer of the Seattle University Student Nurses Association (SUSNA). 

  • Richard Pallangyo was Vice President of the Tri-Alpha First-Generation Honor Society and Vice President/Financial Officer of the African Student Association. 

  • Christiana Tembo served as President of the National Society of Black Engineers at Seattle University.

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2020

9 Alfies of Cohort 4 are members of at least one honor society, and 1 was selected to be in the Social Work Honors Program.

5 Alfies have assumed 8 leadership roles on campus:

  • Ernesto Chacón is the President of Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society;

  • Lorra Hernon is the Mentorship Officer of the Transfer BSN Class of 2021 Cohort.

  • Adrian Nava has 3 leadership roles as the

    • President of the Transfer BSN Class of 2021 Cohort,

    • Treasurer of the Seattle University Student Nurses Association, and

    • Vice-president of Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society.

  • Richard Pallangyo is the Vice-President African Student Union.

  • Christiana Tembo has 2 leadership roles as the

    • President of the National Society of Black Engineers and

    • Ambassador for Diversity and Inclusion, College of Arts and Science.

 4 Alfies are majoring in Nursing, 1 in Computer Science, 1 in Communications, 1 in Diagnostic Ultrasound, 1 in Electrical Engineering, 1 in Political Science, and 1 in Social Work.

These new scholars bring a wide variety of experiences, perspectives, and career goals. 4 are working to complete degrees in Nursing; others are working to complete degrees in Computer Science, Communications, Diagnostic Ultrasound, Electrical Engineering, Political Science, and Social Work.

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The 2019 Alfie cohort members are between the ages of 20 and 30. Seven are women. 5 were born outside the United States, specifically in Mexico, the Philippines, Republic of Congo, Russia, and Tanzania. 3 are international students. 9 are first generation college students. 8 scholars speak at least one other language in addition to English. They speak the following 12 different languages among them: American Sign Language, French, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean Sign Language, Korean, Lingala, Meru, Russian, Spanish, and Tagalog.

2 scholars have served in the military, one in the United States and one in Israel. The scholars transferred from eight Washington State community colleges: Bellevue, Highline, Lower Columbia, Olympic, North Seattle, South Seattle, Seattle Central, and Pierce Colleges. 

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