In the leadup to our Fall 2021 Commencement ceremonies happening this Sunday, December 12 at the Wolstein Center, Cleveland State University is delighted to introduce you to two of our Valedictorians. These outstanding, well-rounded students embody an exceptional depth and breadth of knowledge, pride of personal character and a strong commitment and dedication to academics, while balancing a myriad of outside activities, challenges and obligations. Meet Raina Dano and Sebastian Solomon!

RAINA DANO

College of Sciences and Health Professions

Bachelor of Science, Chemistry with minors in Biology and Mathematics

Summa Cum Laude

Raina Dano’s passion for research started in the summer of 2019, after her second year of university. She landed a research student internship at Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute. Dano worked in the Inflammation and Immunity department under P.I. Dr. Srinivasan Dasarathy, who introduced her to biochemical lab techniques and all the basic procedures she would need for real-world lab settings. In her third year, Dano began work under Dr. Bin Su, who she remained with for the remainder of her undergrad. Dr. Su’s lab focuses on the disease African Trypanosomiasis, and the cancers glioblastoma (brain cancer) and ductal carcinoma (breast cancer). Subsequent biological and pharmacokinetic assays with Dr. Su have led to research published with Dano as coauthor.

Dano was awarded a Presidential Award Scholarship when she arrived at CSU; was awarded the Ohio space Grant Consortium Scholar Award for her African Trypanosomiasis research, and the Lily Ng Undergraduate Research Award for her pharmacokinetic study showing anti-glioblastoma activity. An invitee to the National Society of Leadership and Success program as a second-year student, Dano was born in Albania and immigrated to the United States when she was three years old. Her hard-working parents worked low-paying jobs and laborious hours to ensure that she and her two older sisters would have greater opportunity when they got older. Their example instilled a work ethic, a passion and a vision that will remain with her for the rest of her life. What’s next for Dano? A Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) certification and continued education and research. Her enthusiasm about learning more about the human body and the chemistry that is involved with it is palpable.

“It is an honor to be recognized for the hard work and achievements that Cleveland State University has given me the chance to pursue. It was a challenging but rewarding feat,” Dano said.

Cleveland State University: Can you tell us about the moment you decided to move forward with CSU – your “yes, this is the college for me” moment, if you will?

Raina Dano: CSU stood out to me because it is a big and diverse school that offers plenty of opportunities to people of all backgrounds. As an institution, it values achievement and it supports and makes resources available to all. Furthermore, CSU’s affordability allowed me to focus more on my studies.

CSU: What made you go into your major(s)? Were there any defining moments or inspirations that led you on that path?

RD: I chose Chemistry as my major because it combined all the things I was interested in: math, working with my hands, and experimenting/researching. I kept looking into other majors like biology and physics but then I realized ever since high school, that I enjoyed chemistry the most. Finally, the chemistry field is an important part of industry as well as research in medicine. Aside from my personal interests in chemistry, the impact it makes on the world at large is what drew me to the major, especially when it comes to the medical field.

CSU: Once you started getting into your major classes, how did your perception of that course of study change?

RD: It made me fall even more in love with the subject. I don’t think I realized how intertwined chemistry and biology were before I got into the major classes, but it led me to enhance my degree with a minor in biology. I also did not understand the magnitude of all the branches that encompass chemistry (such as inorganic chemistry or analytical chemistry). The deeper I went into my studies, the further it confirmed my decision to major in chemistry.

CSU: What was the best class you’ve taken at CSU – or the class you enjoyed the most – and why?

RD: The best class I took was organic chemistry 1 and 2 with Dr. Vania De Paoli. This was the first time I had really been challenged in a class and it was so much fun studying and making friends with the students there. I enjoyed the subject matter and learning the structures of compounds and how these compounds reacted with one another. It was not an easy class, but it was the most rewarding.

CSU: How has CSU cultivated your character, values, and standards of excellence?

RD: It taught me rigorous discipline and to put my best effort into each class. I would make sure I understood the concepts I learned in my chemistry courses so that I could apply the information in lab. It also made me very grateful for the resources available to me (such as the math learning center, TASC, teaching assistants, etc.) and it further motivated me to continue excelling in my studies.

CSU: How do you think you’ve changed or grown during your time at CSU?

RD: At CSU, I got to step out of the boundaries of chemistry and the hard sciences and develop my soft skills such as time management, communication, and teamwork. These things contributed to me being a more well-rounded individual who not only excels in my studies but also effectively works with others towards a common goal.

CSU: Aside from being Valedictorian, what stands out most to you about your CSU experience?

RD: Something that really stood out to me about CSU is all the opportunities that are catered to each individual learner, from program options to placement options, there is something there that can be tailored to everyone. In addition, there are so many activities like dances, tie dying shirts, ceramics etc. that are done every month in the student atrium that make the CSU experience memorable.

CSU: What is your favorite CSU memory?

RD: My most memorable moment at CSU was the homecoming event my freshman year. My friends and I had a blast watching the dance competition supported by live music. We also enjoyed a ton of food from the different food trucks. At the end, we got to take home caricature drawings of ourselves from local artists. That night, I truly felt the spirit of the school and what it meant to be a Viking.

CSU: What’s next for you in life and how has your experience at CSU prepared you for it?

RD: I am applying to an MLS program at Cleveland Clinic so that I can become a lab technologist. This work entails examining body fluids, tissues, etc., of patients. I am really grateful for Dr. Bin Su and his lab, especially graduate students Yaxin Li and Cody Orahoske, who taught me everything I needed to know. I worked in Dr. Su’s lab for the last two years of my undergrad. If it weren’t for the opportunities and big projects he gave me, I wouldn’t have had so many achievements. I learned all my chemistry and biology techniques in this lab and because I spent so much time there, it truly felt like a second home.

CSU: What advice would you give to the next class, or even a freshman entering your major?

RD: That it is okay to be unsure of your major or interests. I went into CSU as undecided and it took me a while to figure out what I liked and what major I wanted to go into. It took me even longer to find out what path I wanted to take in my career after graduation (whether it’s going into industry, clinical work, or teaching). My advice would be to trust your gut, and to try out different things before making a decision. There is no need to rush, because you are on your own timeline.

SEBASTIAN SOLOMON

School of Nursing

Bachelor of Science, Nursing

Summa Cum Laude

Sebastian Solomon wanted to go to a smaller college and had committed himself to Baldwin-Wallace University when he had a bit of a crisis of conscience he calls “financial reality.” He subsequently applied to CSU and in retrospect, is confident that it was the perfect choice for him. Not only did his worry of being lost amid a large lecture hall of people not come to fruition, he thrived as a member of the Mandel Honors College and gained a lot of experience right away in his chosen field. Inspired by medical professionals—who were able to combine technical knowledge of anatomy and medical treatments with the interpersonal skills that made them effective communicators with patients and colleagues—Solomon’s first relevant jobs as a dietary aide in a nursing home and as a pharmacy technician opened his eyes to what he calls “the other half” of healthcare.

From there, Solomon helped with a mass vaccination clinic for COVID-19, distributed said shots on a retail level, and at the same time was working as a nurse technician on a unit that was caring for COVID-19 patients. He then went on to volunteer at MetroHealth—which helped him with his Choose Ohio First membership—and participated in multiple student panels for the School of Nursing. Building upon the leadership skills he gained, he became the secretary of the Multicultural Association of Student Nurses. He now has clinical experience at University Hospitals’ Rainbow Babies & Children’s R4 (NICU step-down) and Cleveland Medical Center (Adult ICU, Seidman) and feels that hospice care might be somewhere in his future. But the next step is as RN at Southwest General Hospital.

“I am honored to have been selected as my class’s valedictorian,” said Solomon. “It feels like a kind of reward for all the hard work that was put into this endeavor.”

Cleveland State University: Can you tell us about the moment you decided to move forward with CSU – your “yes, this is the college for me” moment, if you will?

Sebastian Solomon: I may be different from the other valedictorians being questioned in that I did not tour CSU before I applied. For a long time, I had committed myself, both in my mentality and with a down payment, to starting undergrad at B-W. It was only after a meeting with the school’s financial advisor that it really hit me what a difficult financial situation going to school there would put me in. I went home and applied to CSU that day. I had a headache. I was still excited to go to college generally, I just felt very unsure in that moment.

CSU: What made you go into your major(s)? Were there any defining moments or inspirations that led you on that path?

SS: I truly did not know very much about nursing before I went into it. I didn’t have a family member in the profession or visited anybody in the hospital to see the work firsthand. Pre-med was my original plan, for some reason, and hearing that one person had applied to 17 schools and wasn’t sure if they would get into any of them left me completely discouraged. I went to a meeting regarding the evening/weekend that promised a contract for a job and additional financial aid, and I had pretty much figured it out then. Part of my trouble in picking a major had to do with complacency, I really thought I could be happy anywhere.

CSU: Once you started getting into your major classes, how did your perception of that course of study change?

SS: The sheer depth of knowledge really surprised me, as well as the physicality of the job. Like I said, I didn’t really know about nursing before getting into the program. I learned something I found fascinating every time I sat down in lecture. Clinical rotations offered opportunities to practice hands-on skills and interact with nurses. Some of these people are unkind, which I also found to be surprising. I was galvanized by it, however. I feel as though I have developed a method to my practice, which is centered around respect and compassion, that I have found to be rather unique.

CSU: What was the best class you’ve taken at CSU – or the class you enjoyed the most – and why?

SS: To name one, I think it was Non-Western Philosophy with Professor Adam Schneider in my first semester. It gave me the most to think about, I was telling everybody about what we talked about in that class that semester. A number of other classes come to mind. The professors of these classes have a lot to do with that. It is a rare pleasure to receive a lecture from someone who is palpably passionate about the topic they are talking about.

CSU: How has CSU cultivated your character, values, and standards of excellence?

SS: The university environment and the exposure to new ideas and people has a lot to do with why there is so much change in such a short time. Semester after semester, I met people and learned things that changed me. It created within me a drive to succeed and an attitude of respect for others. I wanted to always put my best work forward and reach higher. I feel a satisfaction knowing that I was able to achieve that.

CSU: How do you think you’ve changed or grown during your time at CSU?

SS: The amount of growth that you can do in those few years of undergrad is truly staggering. You really do become a different person. I really don’t think that there’s an aspect of myself that has gone unchanged in that amount of time. I have more concrete goals and a more defined sense of myself. My values are firm. I have a new confidence and vigor that surprised me when they first appeared. I feel more like myself than ever before.

CSU: Aside from being Valedictorian, what stands out most to you about your CSU experience?

SS: I think the amount of personal growth I have experienced is what I will most take away from my CSU experience. I would be a different person in any other situation or at any other school. I am satisfied with my CSU self and grateful for the experience to cultivate that self.

CSU: What is your favorite CSU memory?

SS: I like to remember the friendships that I made the most. Some were unlikely, others fleeting, and others natural and comfortable. In any case, I was able to take something from them, and I think that is why this experience is so valuable. I went to events and had experiences that I would have otherwise shied away from. Through meeting and learning about others, I ultimately was able to learn more about myself.

CSU: What’s next for you in life and how has your experience at CSU prepared you for it?

SS: After graduation and passing my NCLEX, I will be taking an RN position on 3E, a medical telemetry unit at Southwest General. I am a nurse technician at Southwest currently, and I have learned a lot from my position. My current preceptorship at CSU is teaching me even more though. I am working one on one with a nurse at the VA, and this experience has really inspired a new confidence within me. This is the first time I have really felt prepared to become a nurse.

CSU: What advice would you give to the next class, or even a freshman entering your major?

SS: I suppose it is important to say that you should be open to change. I find that time management is the biggest key to success. To all aspiring nurses: be kind to your classmates, your patients, and yourself. Call your patient by their name, show respect in all aspects of your care. “Care” must be the focus of your practice.

Congratulations, Raina and Sebastian!