May 2012
Mary Beth Galanko
Undergraduate Students of the Month
What is your full name? Mary Elizabeth Galanko (Mary Beth)
Where is your hometown? Pittsburgh, PA
What year of college are you in? Junior
What is your major/field? Electrical and Computer Engineering
Do you have any siblings and if so, how many? One younger sister, 18 years old.
Do you have any pets and if so, what kinds and what are their names? None right now, but I wish! My favorite pet was a guinea pig named Twix.
What are some of your hobbies? Playing flute and piano, knitting, yoga, shopping.
What is something you dream about doing in the future? Designing electronic prosthetics.
What is your favorite color? Blue
What is your favorite meal? Pierogies and yellow cake for dessert.
Who is your favorite cartoon character and why? Shaggy from Scobby Doo - I thought Shaggy's stunts were great! He seemed like a nice buy who stayed humble and light-hearted.
What is your favorite genre of music? Pop/progressive rock, especially from the 1980's.
What is your favorite film? Star Wars Episode IV
Who is one of your role models and why? Mother Theresa - I'm sure she's cited a lot, but I deeply admire her peaceful attitude and her unwavering compassion. Even more admirably, she managed to keep them amid more than her share of doubts and hardships.
What is the best thing about being a Cornell Engineer? Being a Cornell Engineer gives you an incredible chance to work on solving problems in whatever subject inspires you most... and work along side other students doing that work in every subject imaginable. It crystallizes and deepens your own interests and broadens your perspective at the same time.
If you could change any one thing, what would it be? Occasionally, big deadlines pile up, and even if you've been proactive, you're very overworked for a few days. I'd like for work to be more balanced.
Share some words of wisdom: Keep making time for the people and activities that are most important to you - I've found that helps my mind set other parts of life, including school.
Rebecca Ventimiglia
Undergraduate Students of the Month
What is your full name? Rebecca Ventimiglia
Where is your hometown? Beacon Falls, Connecticut
What year of college are you in? Junior
What is your major/field? Mechanical Engineering
Do you have any siblings and if so, how many? Yes, I have 2 siblings: Ashley and Michael.
Do you have any pets and if so, what kinds and what are their names? Yes, I have a dog named Ebony.
What are some of your hobbies? TA for MAE 2250, Running, Cooking, Being Outdoors.
What is something you dream about doing in the future? Having enough industry experience to be the "go-to" person when problems arise, and raising a family.
What is your favorite color? Pink
What is your favorite meal? Chicken and Rice.
Who is your favorite cartoon character and why? Meeko from Pocahontas, because all he does is eat and instigate!.
What is your favorite genre of music? Alternative, Dance.
What is your favorite film? The Blind Side
Who is one of your role models and why? My parents, because they inspire me to be a well-rounded person.
What is the best thing about being a Cornell Engineer? Being able to design and build innovations through hands-on projects!
If you could change any one thing, what would it be? Time - I can never get enough of it!
Share some words of wisdom: "Do what you love, love what you do."
Kenneth Lyons, Jr.
Graduate Student of the Month
What is your full name? Kenneth Lyons, Jr.
Where is your hometown? Oakland, California
What year of college are you in? First-year Graduate Student
What is your major/field? Materials Science & Engineering
Do you have any siblings and if so, how many? One younger sister, Taylor.
Do you have any pets and if so, what kinds and what are their names? Nope.
What are some of your hobbies? Reading, singing, listening to music, going for walks, playing Frisbee.
What is something you dream about doing in the future? Traveling to and through Outer Space.
What is your favorite color? Green
What is your favorite meal? Favorite? It's a very tough choice, but it would be peanut-butter slathered on multiple pieces of bread (maybe with honey and raisins) with a tall glass of milk or two.
Who is your favorite cartoon character and why? Wiley Coyote, though he may fail frequently, he is persistent, resilient, and very inventive.
What is your favorite genre of music? (Old School) R&B (especially the Motown Sound).
What is your favorite film? The Lion King
Who is one of your role models and why? Dr. Brian Lawrence, a professor of Chemistry at Morehouse College. He is the ultimate scholar; he knows at least a little bit about seemingly everything. His level of scholarship and dedication to positively affecting students is both commendable and enviable.
What is the best thing about being a Cornell Engineer? Having (fairly easy) access to so many high-powered (and expensive) instruments..
If you could change any one thing, what would it be? I would reinstate Kevin Brow, the Morning Show Host for KBLX, back home; my radio host for as long as I have been alive.
Share some words of wisdom: "You can't possibly be a scientist if you mind people thinking that you're a fool." - Wonko the Sane in Douglas Adams' So Long and Thanks for All the Fish.
"While they run their mouths, you run your business" - Dr. David Morrow, Director of the Morehouse College Glee Club
