Know Thyself Series

A biology major with minors in geoscience and environmental studies, Papetti traces her interest in plant science to Assistant Professor of Biology Pete Guiden’s introductory biology course Secret Life of Plants.

Softball standout Emma Tansky ’25 didn’t retire her bat and glove after her career as a Continental came to an end. When not working as a dermatology assistant at Bryn Mawr Skin & Cancer Institute, she’s a ball girl for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Joanna Langfield K’76 has built her long-held passion for the arts into a career as a film critic and media personality. From writing reviews to hosting programs, she has a reputation for garnering celebrities’ insights that go beyond just news about their latest projects. Through her website, The Movie Minute, she has reached millions with her insightful capsule reviews of the latest films.

Years after competing in Hamilton’s pool for the Continentals, Emilio Vicioso ’23 was back on campus for a different kind of meet. Instead of chasing medals himself, he was helping others do the same.

For filmmaker Mekhia Foster ’26, storytelling has always been more than entertainment: it’s a way to share experiences and explore new domains. Now, her work is gaining recognition beyond campus. Her documentary In Her Care has been accepted into Philadelphia’s FirstGlance Film Festival.

Sofia Santana ’26 came to Hamilton from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with a plan. Now a senior, she has accomplished many of her goals, but her path has taken some unexpected — and exciting — turns.

Travis Talmadge ’09 has a hot idea — bringing sauna and bathhouse culture, which has long existed in Scandinavia and Japan, to America. He co-founded Bathhouse, “a home for people to look, feel, and perform their very best.”

Connie Halporn K’78 fights both on the mat as a 6th degree judo black belt and in the nonprofit sphere as chair of the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation. Halporn’s judo journey began in high school and continued to blossom at Kirkland College, where she first started leading judo classes.

Victor Maldonado ’86 has no plans to retire from practicing immigration law anytime soon. In fact, he’s pushing himself harder than ever. Last summer, Maldonado swam the English Channel, a course considered the “Mt. Everest of Open Water Swimming” — and he’s not stopping there.

As a research hydrogeologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, Michelle Walvoord ’93 is forging new frontiers in studying the impact of changes and instability on groundwater.