Liam Cooper was named valedictorian and Ali Darwish salutatorian for Baruch’s class of 2025.
Cooper will graduate as a Macaulay Honors student with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and minors in Environmental Sustainability and New York City Studies.
Throughout his time at Baruch, Cooper has excelled academically while pursuing professional work opportunities within and beyond the Baruch community. His internships include work with the Environmental Defense Fund, the New York State Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Bureau, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and the CUNY India Pollution Study.
He served as a Resident Assistant, vice president of the Pre-Law Society and a peer mentor with T.E.A.M. Baruch co-teaching the First Year Seminar.
As a student-athlete, Cooper captained Baruch’s NCAA Division III Varsity Tennis Team, leading them to multiple CUNYAC championships. He also served as a student leader in GLASS, Baruch’s LGBTQ+ student organization.
“Being named the Valedictorian is unreal,” Cooper said in a press release. “In a way, it validates all my hard work throughout my undergraduate career; I’ve had my nose in the books for so long that sometimes I can lose sight of the big picture, so this is really special.”
His pursuit of a career in environmental law was inspired by his father who was a rescue helicopter pilot for the United States Coast Guard.
Salutatorian Ali Darwish, a Provost Scholar Honors Student, will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Systems with a concentration in Risk Management and Cybersecurity, and a minor in Law and Policy.
“Being named Salutatorian means to me that anyone can find community at Baruch, even if they move without any family besides their brother and no connections here,” Darwish said, as a transfer student and immigrant from Egypt.
“I think I just represent a standing opportunity for all students to find family in a new country. It is proof that if you put yourself out there and get involved, you can not only succeed academically but also create a meaningful life here. The honor is special because it reflects not just my academic work but also the incredible support system I found at Baruch.”
Darwish was involved in a wide range of clubs and organizations on campus. He serves as president of Baruch’s ISACA Cybersecurity Chapter, vice president of the Model United Nations Club, and Founder and Secretary of the Good E.A.T.S. Club — Baruch’s first international food club focused on cultural connection and belonging.
Darwish worked at the New Student Programs & Family Programs office as a Transfer Peer Mentor. He worked in the Baruch Writing Center and wrote a food column for The Ticker.
