C.W. Post 2008 Valedictorian to Compete in World Race Walking Cup
Maria Michta will miss Commencement to travel to Russia for race walking championship

Most students see graduation as a finish line, none more so than Maria Michta. But the valedictorian of the Class of 2008 of the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University won’t be walking across the stage with her classmates on Mother’s Day, May 11, 2008. Instead, the Nesconset, N.Y. resident will be in the city of Cheboksary in the Chuvash Republic, Russia, competing as part of the five-member U.S. team in the 23rd World Race Walking Cup.

“This was such a hard decision,” Michta said of mulling participation in the two events. Initially, she was leaning toward attending Commencement, but a heartfelt talk with her mom changed her mind.

“Graduation is a celebration and my reward for all my hard work,” Michta said. “And apart from a few surprises, I know how that day will go. It would be a great moment of joy. But going to Russia is new and unknown. It’s a challenge. It’s a chance to do more. I thrive on challenge and know that I would always wonder, if I didn’t go, what would happen at the race in Russia?”

Traditionally, the valedictorian is the main student speaker at Commencement. Despite being almost 5,000 miles away, Michta intends to fulfill her oratory responsibilities. The elite race walker, who has a flawless 4.0 G.P.A. and earned a bachelor of science in biology, is expected to videotape a brief address to be shown on video screens at the ceremony.

“I’m truly thankful to everyone who helped me throughout my college journey,” she said. “For me, the big downside of missing Commencement is that I’ll miss that celebration with my professors, my family and my friends. Being named Valedictorian isn’t just about me, although it’s an honor I’ll always have and cherish.” She added, “This day is the culmination of the support and encouragement from my parents, siblings Ricky, Kristie and Katie, my boyfriend Joey, and especially my professors Dr. Karin Melkonian, Dr. Glynis Pereyra, and Dr. Matthew Draud.”

This is not the first graduation ceremony Michta has missed. During her high school commencement she was in Texas racing at the junior nationals in an event that qualified her to race in Italy at the Junior World Championships.

“I have never been to a graduation that was my own,” she laughed.

Michta, who qualified for the World Cup at the World Cup Trials held in Oregon at the end of March, is also an Olympic hopeful. In May 2007 Michta qualified for the Olympic Trials that will be held in Oregon this July. Last June, she set a personal best in the 20K race walk at the 2007 USATF Nationals with a time of 1:41:27.23. Her dream is to compete in the Olympics. While this summer’s games in Beijing may still be a long shot, Russia will be an important step along the way. She has her sights set on the 2012 Olympics in London. Michta has been a member of the C.W. Post cross-country, winter and spring track teams even though her sport of race walking is not an NCAA event.

In addition to her athletic pursuits, Michta has been deeply involved in campus life through her four years at C.W. Post. A member of C.W. Post’s Honors Program, she is interning at Brookhaven National Lab studying x-ray crystallography. Last summer she worked at BNL as a volunteer to gain additional laboratory experience and was able to directly tailor a research project – the structural composition of an antimicrobial cloth – to her senior undergraduate thesis. She will continue to volunteer at the lab this summer performing hands-on demonstrations for children.

Michta is a tutor in physics, organic chemistry and biochemistry for fellow C.W. Post students and in chemistry and biology for high school students. As a member of the Biophilia Club, she organized meetings and community service activities and arranged for local scientists to lecture as guest speakers. She also created her own Polish Tutorial course that allowed her to learn Polish in a non-traditional manner while tracing her family’s heritage. After graduation, she plans to attend a graduate biomedical Ph.D. program. Over the summer she will attend a prestigious internship program at a national laboratory.

Commencement exercises will take place on the Great Lawn at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University in Brookville, NY beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 11. The Class of 2008 includes 1,022 baccalaureate degree candidates, 1,434 master's degree candidates, 15 graduates receiving the Psy.D. in clinical psychology and 4 receiving the Ph.D. in information studies. C.W. Post’s commencement ceremonies also include graduates from the Brentwood Campus, Southampton College, Southampton Graduate Campus and Long Island University at Riverhead.

Posted: April 7, 2008