Jessie Rising ’22 Named Undergraduate Valedictorian
A biology major and captain of the Jaspers’ softball team, Rising will be the student speaker at Undergraduate Commencement.
Jessie Rising ’22, a biology major and captain of Manhattan College’s softball team, is the undergraduate valedictorian for the class of 2022. At Undergraduate Commencement on May 18, Rising will be the student speaker and receive the Donald J. Carty Valedictory Medal.
A native of Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey and graduate of Pinelands Regional High School, Rising has been a member of the Dean’s List in the School of Science every semester at Manhattan College, holding a 4.0 grade point average. She has been a peer academic tutor, while also leading research in molecular and developmental biology.
During her college career, she has been named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team and a Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American Scholar-Athlete. She has also taken time off the field to assist the athletic training department, shadowed the College’s orthopedist, and has worked as a certified nursing assistant near her family’s home in New Jersey.
Rising is president of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, president of the Tri Beta Honor Society, vice president of the Alpha Epsilon Delta Honor Society, and a member of the Epsilon Sigma Pi, Phi Beta Kappa and National Spanish honor societies. She is also a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
A four-year member of the Manhattan College softball team, Rising was named team captain prior to this season. Last season, she helped the Jaspers to the MAAC Championship and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the first conference title and postseason appearance for Manhattan in more than two decades.
After graduation, Rising will enter graduate school at Thomas Jefferson University to become a physician assistant.