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Manteca teen youngest grad this year for CSU Stanislaus
YoungestGrad-2a
Kamalpreet Gill
TURLOCK – Medical school is just around the corner for the youngest graduate among the 2,345 students eligible to participate in commencement ceremonies at California State University, Stanislaus today.

“I think I got here so quickly because professors continually encouraged and challenged me,” said Kamalpreet Gill, 19, who graduated from Manteca High School just three years ago.

She will receive her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology this morning. “The key was that I was fortunate to be able to take wonderful courses in the proper sequence with professors who wanted me to make the most of my opportunities.”

 Focusing on a biology degree as the first step to medical school, Gill graduated from high school at 16, then took courses at San Joaquin Delta College and in 2008 began coursework at CSU Stanislaus’ Stockton Center.

 “Taking 18 units at a time and getting the most out of summer sessions was what made it possible,” said Gill, who was in the Genetics Club at CSU Stanislaus and plans to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) this summer. By this time next year, she hopes to have been admitted to a University of California medical school. She plans to take additional coursework and perhaps shadow a medical professional between now and then.

 “At CSU Stanislaus I got to see why it is so popular for Central Valley students,” said Gill. “Every day was a new learning experience, and each one was awesome.”

 Gill will be joined by her parents and sister Bhanupreet Gill who last week delivered the valedictorian address for Manteca High School, at the university’s 50th annual commencement ceremonies.

The ceremonies will feature the awarding of degrees to graduates in the colleges of Business Administration, Human and Health Sciences, and Natural Sciences. On June 5, degrees will be awarded to graduates of the colleges of the Arts, Education, and Humanities and Social Sciences.

 The ceremonies will feature a keynote address by Leon Panetta, Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency today and a commencement address by Dr. Marc Lamont Hill both today and Saturday. University President Hamid Shirvani will preside over each event and deliver additional remarks.