A record 8,652 students earned degrees during Ohio State’s spring commencement on Sunday in Ohio Stadium.There are hundreds of examples of Arts and Sciences graduates doing something great. We cannot share all of their stories, but here is a sampling of some of the students behind the degrees. We expect you’ll be hearing more about them in the future.

Robert Bonacci graduated with a degree in microbiology and Spanish. Robert participated in three study abroad trips including a six-month program in Argentina and a two-week service trip to Costa Rica. He also worked in Ohio State’s tuberculosis research lab and mentored students enrolled in the university'sLeadership Collaborative. Next year, Robert will travel to Mexico on a Fulbright Fellowship to study the H1N1 viral pandemic and public health. The following year, he plans to enroll at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine to pursue a degree inpublic health.

Patrick Burns graduated with a BS in geological sciences. Patrick's goal is to rid theworld of contaminated water. He has been inducted into three national honor societies, including the national earth sciences honorary. For several years, Patrick has volunteered, as a mentor and teacher, with the “Wonders of the World” program to engage elementary students in study of science. Patrick was a student researcher at the Byrd Polar Research Center studying glacier and environmental change and he worked as an intern for Ohio Department of Natural Resources. He will be attending graduate school at Oregon State University in the Water Resources Science Masters Program.

Amy Eakins earned a BS in anthropological sciences, with minors in zoology and English. Amy is working to save endangered primates and their habitats. For the last two years, she has been watching and documenting primate behaviors – the ultimate warning signs of the health or decline of forests around the globe; her research could have a profound impact on international ecological and environmental policies. Since her freshman year, Amy has worked as a tutor and proctor in the Student Athlete Support Services Office. Amy has been awarded a graduate fellowship in the Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences (IDPAS) – a world-renowned primate behavior program – at Stony Brook University in New York.

Ravi Gupta earned a BS in molecular genetics and a BA in political science with a minor in economics. Last summer, Ravi traveled to India where he conducted interviews with health workers, government officials, and doctors to analyze the role of health education in improving the country’s public health system. Ravi is the founder of Ohio State’s Global Health Initiative High School Workshops, which provides educational resources on global health issues for high school students. In April 2009, he was chosen as Ohio State’s delegate to the Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference where he presented his paper on the role of non-governmental organizations in reducing global poverty. Ravi will be traveling to India to work with the MIT Poverty Action Lab for two years

Lea Madry earned a BA, magna cumlaude, in sociology. Lea, an Ohio native and first generation student, came to Ohio State as one of only a handful of selective recipients of theMorrill Scholarship. She served as president of the SERVICE Squad, a group of Ohio State student leaders who connect volunteers with community agencies and site liaison for the League of Women Voters. She founded the Ohio State chapter of the Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority and served as its first president. Leah will be heading to Chicago in September to attend the University of Chicago Law School, on scholarship.

Hudson McFann graduated with a BA in geography with honors and research distinction. Hudson led “Students for a Sustainable Campus” for three years and served on the Advisory Group to the President’s Council on Sustainability. He was awarded a Beinecke Scholarship in 2009 and was named an honorable mention twice by the Udall Foundation. Hudson’s interests in the geographies of waste, landfills and other waste facilities has led him to focus his research on the socio-politics of landfills. Hudson will be traveling to Toronto on a Fulbright scholarship to study the impact of Toronto’s shipments of municipal solid waste on Michigan and Ontario land sites.

Justin McGee earned a BS in biology and a BA in political science. He will enter The Ohio State University College of Medicine in the fall. Justin hopes to increase health and wellness initiatives in the African American community. While pursuing his degrees, Justin worked as an HIV test counselor with the Columbus AIDS Task Force, a middle school mentor, volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Ohio State’s Bell Resource Center. He has been recognized with several prestigious scholarships and awards, including the Columbus AIDS Task Force Distinguished Service Award, Golden Key International Honor Society, Lawrence Williamson Jr. Service Award, and the Gene and Sheila Smith Excalibur Prize.

Janet Soto Rodriguez earned a BA in political science.Janet, the youngest of ten children and a first generation student, traveled with her family as seasonal migrant workers from Mexico to Ohio. She works in Ohio State’s Office of Economic Access as an access advocate and in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as a student facilitator and an interpreter for Spanish speaking families. She helped found “Students for Equal Access” to increase access to higher education for all qualified students. Janet will be traveling to Texas as part of the 2010 Teach for America AmeriCorpsto teach high school social studies.