Computer Science Terps Honored as Senior Marshals

Four computer science students graduating from the University of Maryland have been named 2024 senior marshals in recognition of their outstanding scholarship, service to the campus community, extracurricular involvement and personal growth.

They will carry banners representing their schools and colleges into the university’s main commencement ceremony on Monday, May 20, accompanied by Marsha Guenzler-Stevens, director of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union, and Robert Infantino, associate dean of the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, who oversee the marshals program.

Toluwalope Justinah Bashua (majors: computer science, information science; minor: technology entrepreneurship and corporate innovation) is a first-generation Nigerian student and served on the Student Government Association for three years and as a student employee in two campus departments. She was also a part of Code: Black, African Students Association, Alpha Lambda Delta honor society, The Pride, the Adele H. Stamp Student Union’s Student Employee Advisory Board and more. She looks forward to pursuing a master's degree at UMD.

Karthik Sellakumaran Latha (major: mathematics; minor: computer science) served as a teaching assistant for MATH140/141 and CMSC131/132, was a peer research mentor for the First-Year Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE) program, and created and taught a student-led course on math and art. After graduating, Latha will pursue a doctorate in mathematics and work toward becoming a math professor.

Vanshika Mehta (major: computer science) is graduating with a citation from the Gemstone program in the Honors College. She was a teaching assistant for various Gemstone and computer science classes and served as a student coordinator for the Honors College. She was an active member of the Alpha Omega Epsilon sorority and the Honors Ambassadors program. After graduation, she plans to work as a software engineer at Bank of America.

Judy Song (major: computer science; minor: statistics) earned a certificate from the First-Year Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE) in the Autonomous Unmanned Systems stream. She served as a teaching assistant and professional chair of Alpha Omega Epsilon and was an active participant of the Association of Women in Computing, and the Society of Women Engineers. She was also a member of the Mighty Sound of Maryland and the Maryland Pep Band. Upon graduation, she will work as an embedded software engineer while pursuing a graduate degree in computer science.

—Story by CMNS