Welcome to our 2017 Senior Spotlight Series!
We asked the campus to submit names of outstanding UConn seniors, and we’ll be featuring one student each Friday.

Name: Christian Caceres
Hometown: Madison, CT
Major: Nutritional Sciences/Pre-Medicine
Campus Affiliations: Student Support Services (SSS), Rowe Scholars Program, Honors Program, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), UConn Residential Life, and Lee Laboratory

1. Why did you become a Husky?
   The real question is: why wouldn’t I become a Husky? When I visited the campus, I was immediately sold on the caliber of education I knew I would obtain for an affordable price. Truth be told, I barely made it into UConn through the bridge program Student Support Services (SSS). This institution gave me a shot when others didn’t and saw someone who could succeed when I didn’t. I can’t think of being anything else other than a Husky.
2. What is one little known fact about you?
   Before taking initiative and paving my way for success here at UConn, I wasn’t the best high school student and even failed some classes.
3. What is your favorite UConn memory?
   Attending the Basketball Capital of the World my freshman year. I’ll never forget the chaos on Fairfield Way after we won not because of the vandalism, but because every single student there was proud to be a Husky.
4. What is your favorite place on campus?
   Laurel Hall 102. The amount of time I spent watching Netflix in that lecture hall is ridiculous and would probably fulfill the requirements for another 36 credits of coursework.
5. What have you been involved in at UConn?
   When I came into UConn, the single best piece of advice I received was to get involved to network. I was a Resident Assistant for 5 semesters. I was a Student Support Services (SSS) STEM tutor for 3 semesters. I was Freshman Class Senator through the Undergraduate Student Government. I’ve done research with Dr. Ji-Young Lee in the Nutritional Sciences Department for almost 3 years. I was a biochemistry teaching assistant for a year under Dr. Mary Bruno. I worked for the Pre-College Summer Program for two summers. I was also involved with the Honors Program, Rowe Scholars Program and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP). I get around.
6. What will you miss most about UConn?
   The people who made me a better person and helped me succeed along the way. This includes my friends who challenge me to achieve greater and my advisors, mentors and professors who saw a student eager to learn and facilitated my inquiry so that I can produce results.
7. What was your biggest accomplishment at UConn?
   Realizing my potential to be a great physician one day.
8. What advice do you have for underclassmen?
   Get out of your comfort zone and get involved. The more you get involved, the more people you’ll meet and the more opportunities will come your way.
9. What are your post graduation plans?
   I’m leaving UConn the way I came in when I was 17 years old. I plan to work for Student Support Services as an Assistant Hall Coordinator so that I can mentor the next generation of SSS students. After I give back to a program that gave me so much, I hope to conduct research and volunteer at a local emergency center for one year before entering medical school.
10. Anything else…?
    Let UConn be your amusement park and make sure to try out every ride. You never know which one you just might like the best.

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation, Christian!

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