Over 500 students will conclude their academic journeys as Rice University Owls when they walk during the December commencement ceremony Dec. 10.
As the soon-to-be graduates look forward to receiving their degrees and making their mark on the world using the knowledge and expertise gained at Rice, many reflect on the positive experiences and relationships developed here at South Main.
Rice News caught up with a few upcoming graduates to see what their experiences at the university were like and what their next steps will be after marching through the Sallyport.
Vivian Le
What field of study is your degree in?
I have a major in computational applied mathematics and statistics with a minor in data science.
What has been your favorite part of the Rice experience?
Being able to take as many classes I can and really do anything that I want. I came in wanting to do math, and I left doing a lot of things that helped me grow not only as a person but also as a leader.
What’s next for you after graduation?
I’ll be going into the health tech industry up in Milwaukee and working at my full time job at GE HealthCare.
What would be your advice to incoming Rice students?
Really go out there, go out of your comfort zone. Rice is the place where you want to try new things, where you want to experience new things. And even if you think it’s not the thing for you, give it a try. There are no failures here. This is the place to fail.
Carlos Quintero Peña
What field of study is your degree in?
I am graduating from the Department of Computer Science. I have a doctorate in computer science, particularly in robotics.
What has been your favorite part of the Rice experience?
I was very lucky to have been accepted here. Now graduating from Rice University, I think the best part about Rice was the opportunity to be able to collaborate with other faculty. That was something that was very easy to do. You could literally knock on someone else’s door and just start sharing ideas, and the faculty were very open to it. I think that brought a lot of diversity into my research and a lot of new opportunities, increasing my networking. That was my favorite part of being at Rice.
What’s next for you after graduation?
I just recently got a job offer right next door here at Houston Methodist Hospital. I’m going to be working as a research engineer at the Bookout Center for robotics, imaging and digital surgery. I’m excited because I’m going to be able to apply all the things that I learned through my Ph.D. experience into real-world problems, specifically in medical applications right here in Houston.
What would be your advice to incoming Rice students?
Take full advantage of collaborations with other faculty, other groups and people outside your department. I think that’s something that is going to help a lot. The other thing I would say is to take full advantage of the very strong Rice community. Rice makes a huge effort to create a strong community, not only for academic events but also for improving your personal life, which is very important to do.
Nayna Nambiar
What field of study is your degree in?
I’m a sports medicine and exercise physiology major, and I also did a minor in medical humanities as well as biochemistry and cell biology.
What has been your favorite part of the Rice experience?
Being at Rice, there’s so many ways to get involved on campus. I’ve had the pleasure of getting involved through different things like Beer Bike, Camp Kesem and the Bollywood Fusion team with Rice Riyaaz. Being a part of all these different clubs and activities has really shaped my experience and what I’ve gotten at Rice.
What’s next for you after graduation?
I’m currently applying to medical school right now. So in this gap that I’m taking for the semester, I’ll be working, doing research and then hopefully attending medical school.
What would be your advice to incoming Rice students?
Definitely to enjoy the little moments that come with the Rice experience. Being at Rice, it’s obviously a very rigorous school, and it does get stressful at times. But I think having times where you can enjoy yourself with your friends, do things that you like, explore Houston, explore the food — there’s so many things to do here. That’s something that I’ll take away from the experience of being in Houston with my friends and all the memories.
Manasvi Paturu
What field of study is your degree in?
I’m a computer science major, and I’m also minoring in business.
What has been your favorite part of the Rice experience?
If I could pick one part, I would say O-Week — I especially liked the moment where they took us all into the quad and there were fireworks. It just felt really welcoming, especially as someone coming to the school in the city without knowing anyone. It was a great way to start off my four years here.
What’s next for you after graduation?
I’m going to India for a month to spend time with my family there, and then I’m going to take three months off and go back home to North Carolina. I’ll then start working as a software engineer.
What would be your advice to incoming Rice students?
If I could go back to my freshman year and tell myself a couple of things, I would say a lot of people are worried about what’s next with grades and exams, and it’s a good thing to stay focused on academics. But I think a lot of people miss out on the events going on around campus, meeting new people and just living in the moment instead of worrying about the future. I would definitely give that advice to myself and anyone starting college.
Alejandra Lezcano Perez
What field of study is your degree in?
I’m graduating in the Master of Architecture program.
What has been your favorite part of the Rice experience?
It’s hard to pick because the experience here has been amazing. But I think that the main thing is that I have had the chance to travel the world and get to know more about the world, both from being in the studio and attending lectures here at Rice but also having the chance to travel internationally. We had the chance to go to Asia, Europe and South America. It’s been a unique experience.
What’s next for you after graduation?
I really feel like a part of a global community now. I am a Fulbright Scholar, and I really want to collaborate with my home country (Paraguay) but also get involved in the global community everywhere I am needed. Everywhere I’m needed, I would like to be able to respond. That’s my main goal.
What would be your advice to incoming Rice students?
My piece of advice would be to research. Research a lot about what the school has to offer, because there are so many opportunities that you need to know before coming here. Also, research about your professors and the work they do, what the studio life is like here and what the community is like at Rice. As I said, there are so many opportunities here, and it’s great to be able to take advantage of all of them.
Abigail Brehm
What field of study is your degree in?
I’m majoring in psychology.
What has been your favorite part of the Rice experience?
The community. I feel like Rice does a great job with welcoming in students, especially with the A Team and O-Week. I just think it’s a great place to build community. I especially feel a part of the community here because I have five family members who graduated from here — my three older brothers, my dad and my uncle.
What’s next for you after graduation?
I plan to go to grad school in the fall of 2025. I am working toward becoming a school psychologist.
What would be your advice to incoming Rice students?
I would definitely tell them to join as many clubs as they can. If they don’t like a certain club, they can always leave, but it’s important to join as many as you can so that you can find where you fit in and build more community and friendships.
Murtaza Kazmi
What field of study is your degree in?
I will graduate with a B.S. in molecular and cellular neuroscience, a minor in medical humanities, a minor in biochemistry and cell biology and a certificate in Spanish.
What is your favorite part of the Rice experience?
The Rice community has been tremendously supportive, personally and professionally. At this university, I’ve met some of the most brilliant people whose passions for their interests are infectious yet still remain kind and humble humans at heart. The opportunities at Rice, whether it be mentorship in the classroom or research experience, have been incredible and have prepared me for anything that comes my way.
What’s next for you after graduation?
I will be pursuing my medical degree with the aim of being a doctor. I also hope to work on addressing health disparities through public policy work to ensure equity and inclusion in health care access for all groups.
What would be your advice to incoming Rice students?
I’d encourage future students to reach out for help to everyone, whether it be the administration, faculty or fellow students. If you are experiencing problems or want to plan for your future, Rice has plenty of helping hands that will be useful in solving your problems and ensuring you feel supported overall.
Marina Hutchins
What field of study is your degree in?
I have a Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology with a certificate in teaching and learning.
What has been your favorite part of the Rice experience?
My thesis defense. It was a joy celebrating the culmination of five years of hard work with my family and all of the biosciences department members who offered me support, insight and friendship during my time in graduate school. When I was told that I had passed my defense, I was holding my infant son, which made the memory extra special.
What’s next for you after graduation?
I am continuing to pursue my research interests and my love for teaching as a Stengl-Wyer Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Texas.
What would be your advice to incoming Rice students?
Remember that you deserve to be here, so take up space. Flourish. And use your unique gifts, talents and knowledge to make an impact on campus so that you leave Rice even better than how you found it.