College can change people in so many ways, influencing not only their career aspirations, but their work habits, their willingness to take risks, and the way they view the world.
With their high school and college graduation photos side by side, members of the Class of 2026 reflect on how their time at Fordham has shaped them.
Finding Her Footing Far From Home
Sarah Loewecke
Major: Engineering Physics
Loewecke, a native of Allen, Texas, moved to New York to be close to opportunities in both the sciences and creative fields, such as fashion. Last summer, she was explaining to her older sister that an upcoming move to a new apartment would be challenging because it overlapped with a study abroad trip to Granada.
“She used to give me so much flak when I was growing up about being the youngest sibling,” Loewecke said. But that day, her sister pointed out how she had grown during her time at Fordham. “She said to me, ‘You will figure it out. You have changed so much,’” Loewecke said.
“I remember thinking, ‘Wow, the changes are obvious even to somebody who is living across the country.’ I see it in my everyday life now, where I make decisions and am confident that I’ll be able to land on my feet, and that I have a love for learning that’ll keep me going. I think Fordham really shaped me into being a more competent, independent young adult.”
What’s Next? This summer, Loewecke will work as a science analyst at the marketing firm Analytic Partners. Her long-term goal is to go to law school and specialize in patent law.
Coming Home to His Faith
Gianluca Viscoso
Major: Political Science
Viscoso reconnected with his Catholic faith at Fordham. He helped run spiritual retreats organized by the Office of Campus Ministry, attended Mass daily, and even traveled to Rome for the Catholic Synod on Synodality. As his faith deepened, his comfort level with talking about it grew as well.
“I’ve become much more extroverted and understanding as I’ve come to realize that we’re all on a journey of self-discovery,” said the Queens native. “Being a retreat leader really allowed me to become more vulnerable with others. I feel much closer to God than I did when I came to Fordham.”
What’s Next? This summer, Viscoso is working part-time as a Catholic life assistant at Fordham’s Office of Campus Ministry. He is also applying to law school for the fall.
Saying Yes to the Scary Things
Hatoumata Tunkara
Major: Mathematics and Computer Science
A first-generation student from the Bronx, Tunkara grew up feeling like higher education was reserved for others.
That changed when she enrolled at Fordham and discovered a passion for coding. Working with mentors also gave her the courage to write a paper about a taboo topic—gang violence in her Gambian community—for her Bronx Immigration and Culture class.
“Fordham has made me say yes to unfamiliar subjects and pursue interests I’m passionate about that I had refrained from because I was scared,” she said. “It’s definitely opened many doors for me.”
What’s Next? Tunkara is leaning toward attending graduate school in urban planning.
Service Over Competition
Regina Miller
Major: Economics and Environmental Studies
Growing up in Wethersfield, Connecticut, Miller never imagined attending college in New York City—it seemed too overwhelming. A visit to the Rose Hill campus quickly dispelled her fears, and she soon found community through student government, the club squash team, and an internship with Fordham’s Office of Sustainability.
Through Community Engaged Learning classes, such as Economics and Ecology of Food Systems, she also discovered an emphasis on service that had been missing from the hypercompetitive academic environment she was used to.
“At Fordham, you still want to do your best, but it’s to benefit other people and help others—it’s a different motive,” she said. “I think my time at Fordham has made me more compassionate.”
What’s Next? This summer, Miller is interning at the renewable energy company Energy Infrastructure Partners and hopes to continue working in the field.
Proving Herself in the Lab—and to Herself
Valeria Ramos Prado
Major: Integrative Neuroscience
A native of San Antonio, Texas, and an aspiring doctor, Prado was drawn to New York City in part because of the opportunities to pursue integrative neuroscience outside of the classroom.
She found them at places such as Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she conducted research on memory and aging. But to get there, she had to master organic chemistry—a notoriously difficult class—in her sophomore year.
At first, she doubted herself. But as positive test scores came in, her confidence shifted, and she discovered that she not only had a knack for the subject but genuinely enjoyed it. She attributes much of that success to the professors who served as mentors.
“I rarely had a professor I didn’t end up talking to after the semester ended. I still visited them in their office or did research with them afterward,” she said. “I made connections that boosted my confidence because I learned so much, and continue to learn from them.”
What’s Next? Prado will likely be working in the fall as a clinical research coordinator at Weill Cornell.
Learning to Juggle, Learning to Lead
Brian Tong
Major: Theater
While at Fordham, Tong starred in three mainstage Fordham Theatre productions and studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. He even met his girlfriend through performing, when she joined him onstage for an impromptu duet of a Mandarin ballad at a Mid-Autumn Festival in 2024.
Learning to balance classes, his duties as president of the Chinese Cultural Society, and long rehearsals taught Tong to be more reliable.
“There’s a professional standard that I’ve experienced firsthand here,” said the Queens native. “It’s a lot to juggle, but it forces you to manage your time more efficiently, to decompartmentalize, and to trust the community that you have to be a support system for you.”
What’s Next? Tong is currently working as an artistic educator with the NYC Department of Education. In June, he will star in Fear & Wonder at A.R.T. New York Theatres.
A First-Generation Graduate Who Took the Leap
Nicola G. D’Abundo
Major: Finance
D’Abundo is the first in his family—and extended family—to earn a college degree. His family was initially reluctant to send him to New York City from his small town in Springfield, Pennsylvania.
When he got here, he discovered that his pre-med ambitions weren’t right for him. At a roommate’s advice, he switched to the Gabelli School and thrived there, even landing an internship last spring with Paramount. He also made meaningful connections through Urban Plunge and enjoyed meeting classmates from cultures he’d never been exposed to before.
Last month, he called his mother to make plans for commencement and couldn’t hold back tears, he said. It was a gamble to leave home, but the success he found in the classroom and the friends he made from around the world convinced D’Abundo that he was right to trust his gut.
“The thing that really sticks with me through this is to take the opportunity and trust that all the pieces will fall into place,” he said.
What’s Next? D’Abundo will work in accounting and finance at the health insurance provider Amerihealth.
Expanding Horizons Through Basketball
Charles Dino
Major: Business Administration
A lifelong basketball player who knew he wouldn’t play in college, Dino emailed the Fordham men’s basketball coach to ask if he could join the team as a student manager. Not only did he get the job, but he eventually became the head student manager.
Traveling with the team to places like the Virgin Islands and Montreal dramatically expanded his horizons. He also landed a summer internship at Priority Sports & Entertainment in Chicago, a long way from his hometown of Cranford, New Jersey. He credits his time at Fordham with widening his view of the world.
“Especially this past year with my role with the basketball team, it’s changed the way I talk to others, care about others, and lead people,” he said. “I’ve benefited just from having met so many different professors, classmates, peers, and roommates from very different backgrounds.”
What’s Next? Dino is currently interviewing for jobs and hopes to work at the intersection of business and basketball.
