Class of 2026 Prepares to Take Center Stage at Commencement
Valerie Fabbri Menna can trace her interest in chemical engineering back to watching the animated film “Big Hero 6” — first as a child in 2014 and later in 2020 as a college student searching for her path.
The graduating senior transferred to Cal Poly Pomona from Mt. San Antonio College three years ago with an associate degree in chemical engineering—as well as associate’s degrees in math and natural science. While at community college, Fabbri Menna considered pursuing a degree in electrical engineering, but after one class, she knew it wasn’t for her.
That’s where “Big Hero 6” comes in. After rewatching the movie, the character Honey Lemon inspired her to try chemical engineering instead.
“Honey Lemon did experiments, and she had a purse where she could type in elements to create a blob she used to protect herself from bad guys,” Fabbri Menna said, an avid Disney fan. “I researched the character and found out she was a Ph.D. student in chemical engineering, so I decided that was the direction I wanted to go.”
That spark of inspiration, combined with dedication and hard work, helped her achieve the first of many life goals as she prepares to cross the stage and receive her degree on May 16.
Cal Poly Pomona will celebrate the achievements of approximately 6,900 students from the Class of 2026 during the May 15-17 Commencement ceremonies. The university will host 12 ceremonies over the three days, with more than 60,000 people expected to attend, including family and friends.
Fabbri Menna, who grew up in Atherton, Bakersfield and Santa Clarita, is already putting her skills and knowledge to work. She is an intern working on research and development projects at American Regent, Inc. in Brea, the U.S. branch of the Japanese pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo, which develops more affordable cancer drugs.
The Engineering Student Council president and lead for the ChemE Car Stopping Team, developers of a self-propelled vehicle, originally planned to pursue a career as a medical doctor but developed a passion for engineering. Her plan is to pursue both, as she gears up to start an online master’s degree program in biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University in the fall. After her master’s is done, she hopes to apply to MD/PhD programs.
“I want to connect my engineering background with my passion for medicine,” said Fabbri Menna, who, along with her mom, helps to take care of her grandmother.
“I’ve been raised by my mom as a single parent, but I have had a lot of people in my extended family who have passed away for medical reasons,” she said. “My grandmother has had breast cancer and skin cancer. I had an aunt with blood cancer. It has developed my interest in researching why cancer happens and what can be done about it.”
Fabbri Menna credits the resources, staff and faculty at CPP for helping her earn her degree and ease into adulthood. She said she will miss CPP and definitely plans to return to campus to volunteer and pay it forward.
“I appreciate all of my professors. I have amazing memories of each one,” she said. “I will really miss the atmosphere here. I have so much support from faculty, but also from my mom. CPP is a great community to build your life around.”
Kailey Gonzalez, a graduating political science senior, also found community at CPP through her involvement with Model U.N.
The East Los Angeles resident heard about Model U.N. while at Schurr High School. When she was selecting universities to apply to, Gonzalez not only looked at academic programs offered, but also included co-curricular activities and clubs available on her pros and cons list. CPP had Model UN, so she decided to apply to the university, and subsequently to join the team, she said.
“It has been a real great experience,” she said of Model UN. “In an instance, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. In high school you want to get involved in everything, but in college, you want to get involved in something you really enjoy.”
Gonzalez is part of a winning tradition. The team has won Outstanding Delegation for four consecutive years, the top prize at the National Model United Nations Conference. For the 2026 conference in April, Gonzalez served as head delegate.
She and her co-head delegate managed the committees, helped new members learn how to write position papers, and prepared the team for speeches and for a local practice conference.
“Every year, we’ve been very lucky to come home with a prize,” she said. “I happy the team did an outstanding job.”
The aspiring international lawyer plans to attend USC in the fall to pursue a master’s degree in public diplomacy. After that, she plans to apply to law schools.
The Model UN program has helped her hone her research skills, something she said will help her in her graduate program.
Gonzalez said she is excited to graduate, but she tears up thinking about it.
“I keep telling my friends, ‘I already miss you guys,’” she said. “More than anything, it feels surreal. It seemed so far away, but now it’s happening. I keep thinking, am I really ready for the real world? We’re in this bubble with college. I feel emotional. I am going to miss my friends so much.”
Honorary Doctorate Recipients
Susan Kellogg Bell, a Kellogg descendant and fashion executive, will be recognized for her dedication to the university and her commitment to advancing her family’s legacy of supporting education. She will be the guest speaker at the Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture ceremony.
Michael Beckage (87, engineering technology) and his wife, Bridget Spanier, will be honored for their generous gifts to both the College of Engineering and the College of Education and Integrative Studies, providing funds for scholarships and creating a bequest for future support. Beckage, a distinguished alumni and College of Engineering Hall of Fame Inductee, is the guest speaker for the College of Engineering ceremonies.
Visit the Commencement website for more information about the ceremonies.