Our Students, Our Pride
Since its inception in 2000, the Stars of Stony Brook Gala has provided more than $39 million in academic programs and scholarships, which have made a significant impact on the lives of our exceptional students — several of whom we highlight here — helping them to connect with the ideas that will shape their futures. The generosity of our friends and supporters has enabled our student scholars to demonstrate to the world that they are the true stars of Stony Brook.
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Annet Kuruvilla Annet is in the BS/MD Scholars for Medicine program. She is a biochemistry major and member of SBU Taandava, the Indian classical arts dance team. Annet is currently conducting research in a dermatology and pathology lab at Stony Brook University Hospital and has interned for Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and the Stony Brook Biotechnology Research Program. This summer she will shadow oncologists during an internship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. |
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Rebecca Monastero Rebecca is majoring in biochemistry and aspires to be a physician. She is a member of Women in Science and Engineering program and Scholars for Medicine program. Rebecca volunteers as a research assistant in the graduate Program in Public Health and Department of Epidemiology. In conjunction with the Long Island Study of Seafood Consumption, Rebecca published a paper in the Journal of Community Health. She has received Stony Brook’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award for the past two years and last year was accepted into Stony Brook’s BioElite group, which includes the top 1 percent of students in the undergraduate biology learning laboratories. |
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Ray Pak Ray is majoring in psychology and sociology and wants to become a physician assistant. He is currently president of Stony Brook’s Health and Nutrition Club and a member of the Strength Club. He volunteers with the Glen Oaks Volunteer Ambulance Corp and has participated in mission trips to Honduras with his church. Ray is a University Scholars Fellow, and in that capacity helps freshmen adjust to college life, and a teaching assistant for anatomy and biology. In his spare time, he enjoys playing guitar and piano. |
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Daniel Scanteianu Daniel is a computer science major with a minor in jazz. He is a member of the Honors College, a National Merit Scholar and holds a patent for a skiing robot. Daniel has participated in the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. He is a teaching assistant who enjoys programming computers and playing guitar. In 2015, Daniel was one of three undergraduates chosen to participate in the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest competition team. |
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Lauren Sprung Lauren is a mechanical engineering major with a passion for renewable energy. Lauren was selected to present her research on the applications of nanotechnology to renewable energy at Brookhaven National Laboratory. She currently serves as vice president of the Hillel Student Club and is vice president of membership for the Stony Brook Chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society. She is also a peer mentor in the Women in Science and Engineering honors program. Lauren volunteers with English Pal, a program that gives international students an opportunity to practice conversational English. |
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Ayyan Zubair Ayyan aspires to a career in public service. He is an Honors College student, double majoring in applied math and statistics and economics. Ayyan currently serves on the South Asian Student Alliance, Muslim Students Association, Undergraduate Student Government and Debate Team. He founded a non-profit organization, Pakistanis 4 Social Change, which focuses on eliminating stereotypes and helping the less fortunate. Ayyan recently served as an intern at the United Nations and was named a Coca-Cola Scholar for his philanthropic efforts. |
