Commencement Profile: Gabriela Moreno

Gabriela Moreno graduates with a bachelor of arts degree in arts and letters, focusing on French language and theater, with a minor in anthropology.

Moreno will receive the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence during the 10:00 a.m. baccalaureate ceremony at Buffalo State's 140th Commencement, Saturday, May 12, in the Sports Arena.

Gabriela fulfilled her graduation requirements within two and a half years while attaining a 3.8 GPA. Her passion, intelligence, and genuine concern for others earned her the praise of professors, peers, and community members alike.

Moreno came to Buffalo State from Veracruz, Mexico, where she had proven herself an outstanding high school student, poetry reciter, and distinguished dancer of Mexican folkloric dance. After overcoming some language and cultural barriers, she quickly demonstrated her abilities at Buffalo State. One faculty member described her as “the walking definition of ‘academic excellence.’” Moreno was never satisfied with simply knowing the correct answer; she considered each new answer as the next step in her search for more questions. Because of her exemplary academic record, she was invited to join the Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society and to attend Honors Convocation.

During her time at Buffalo State, Moreno also explored diverse artistic pursuits—serving as the audience services manager for Casting Hall Productions, producing original presentations for the Anne Frank Project, and earning roles in campus productions, such as Cassius in Julius Caesar. She was praised for her professionalism, integrity, and willingness to sacrifice any personal agenda for an entire production’s benefit.

She participated in two programs that allowed her to expand her study of French: the summer French language program in Trois-Pistoles, Quebec, and the creative writing program in Hyères, France.

In the community, Moreno discovered an affinity for teaching. She served as a staff leader and program director for the summer youth theater program in the Merge theater workshop in Cheektowaga. Concerned Ecumenical Ministry also hired Moreno to promote the academic, social, and cultural development of children in its after-school program.