A longstanding tradition honoring two exemplar seniors, the Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience announces today the selection of Ava Breitbeck and Morgan Storino as the Class of 2022 Senior Class Marshals. In this role, Breitbeck and Storino serve as the all-University representatives for their graduating class and will lead Syracuse University’s 168th Commencement ceremony.
Senior Class Marshals are selected each year based upon their academic achievement, campus and community involvement, and commitment to service. Upon beginning their senior year, the selected students will participate in a number of activities, including meeting with senior University leaders to share their insight on the student experience, participating in alumni and celebratory events, and serving on committees.
“Among a highly competitive pool of candidates, Ava and Morgan have distinguished themselves as leaders throughout their undergraduate experience, embracing all that Syracuse University has to offer. Their academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular involvement embodies all there is in being Orange and making the most of your student experience,” says Rob Hradsky, vice president for the student experience.
Ava Breitbeck
Ava Breitbeck
Originally from Cicero, New York, Breitbeck is a rising senior in the College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs majoring in physics and political science. A member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program, Breitbeck’s academic accolades include Dean’s List, the Invest in Success Scholarship for high achievement in the first semester and the Erastus O. Haven Scholarship Award. She was also honored as a National AP Scholar by the College Board, a two-time Aspirations in Computing state award winner by the National Conference for Women in Computing and the recipient of New York State’s Leaders of Tomorrow Award.
Beyond her own academic accolades and achievements, Breitbeck also strives to support other students in their academic pursuits as a tutor and office assistant with the Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS). In her three years with CLASS, Breitbeck has earned level 2 College Reading and Learning Association certification, provided mathematics and physics tutoring to dozens of students, and coordinated programs for the office. She has also served as an academic coach for the SummerStart program and regularly contributed to The Peel, providing study tips and advice to students.
Breitbeck is passionate about science and enjoys igniting others’ interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. For more than six years, she has been a leader with the New York State Science Olympiad, serving as a regional and state supervisor. Working with hundreds of students from more than 120 middle and high schools to oversee competitions that support students in their exploration of science, Breitbeck supervises, runs and judges events at the regional and state level.
This passion and energy transcends Breitbeck’s role as a member of University 100, where she gives prospective and admitted students, as well as their families, tours of campus and shares her experience and love for all things Orange. Breitbeck also holds ambassador roles with the College of Arts and Sciences as a member of the Dean’s Team and with the Honors Program. She looks forward to continuing this ambassador role as the Senior Class Marshal.
“As a student I have witnessed first-hand the vibrancy and spirit of SU,” says Breitbeck. “I love to share my love of the Orange with prospective students and families as a tour guide, and this is an outstanding opportunity to continue to do so. Syracuse University has the best students, alumni and fans in the country, so representing the University means a great deal to me. I am incredibly grateful and appreciative of this responsibility.”
Morgan Storino
Morgan Storino
Storino, who is from Easton, Pennsylvania, is a rising senior in the College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs majoring in chemistry and citizenship and civic engagement. She is a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Programs and a recipient of the prestigious Archbold-Day Scholarship Award, recognizing students who show exceptional leadership potential and the promise of changing the world for the better. Among her academic honors are also Dean’s List recognition and the Invest in Success Scholarship.
Along with her academic pursuits, Storino has built a foundation in research as an undergraduate research assistant in the Steinhardt Lab, which combines organic synthesis, molecular biology and soft materials synthesis to investigate a variety of relevant problems. She has also earned a Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE) grant for her research project assessing interactions of the viral nonstructural protein NSs with TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) using a biological and chemical laboratory technique.
A program that has significantly shaped Storino’s college experience is the WellsLink Leadership Program in the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Joining the program as a first-year student, Storino earned the program’s Leadership Capital Series Certificate and Academic Achievement Award. After her first year, she continued as a WellsLink program leader and mentor to support first-year students in their transition to college life.
Storino’s campus leadership involvement also extends to numerous student organizations and groups. She currently serves as the vice president of the Filipino Student Association and a “big sister” in Asian Students in America. An advocate for creating environments free from interpersonal violence, Storino has served as the fundraising chair and treasurer for Students Advocating Sexual Safety and Empowerment, a member of the Take Back The Night Planning Committee and an intern with Vera House Inc. She is also a member of the Rebecca Lee Pre-Health Society and an active volunteer with hospitals.
In reflecting on her involvement, accolades and academic achievements, Storino expresses gratitude to her parents, advisors and mentors who have encouraged and supported her, and looks forward to the ongoing opportunities to make an impact on the student experience.
“I reflected on how meaningful my journey at Syracuse University has been so far, and I am so excited to step into this role and share with others my Syracuse story, for which I am so grateful. I hope that my experiences will provide me with perspective when acting as a liaison between the Class of 2022 and other important members of the University community from whom I can learn and with whom I can collaborate to make lasting, impactful and positive changes looking into the future,” says Storino.
