For Rebecca (BA musical theatre, pre-med certificate ’26), her AU experience allowed her to embrace multiple passions. In her commencement address, she will speak about building a college experience at the intersection of performance and medicine—and why she believes students don’t have to choose just one direction. 

At AU, Rebecca has built a path at the intersection of musical theatre and pre-medicine. She has spent her time across biology labs and rehearsal spaces, clinical settings and the stage, science and artistic creativity. This dual focus is grounded in both analytical rigor and creative expression. 

“Many people have asked me which career path I’ll give up when I graduate,” she says. “Musical theatre or medicine? And to that I say, why not do it all?” 

On stage, Rebecca has performed in mainstage productions and taken on leadership roles within AU’s a cappella community. Off stage, she has gained hands-on experience in rehabilitation clinics and public-school classrooms, supporting physical therapists, working with patients in recovery, and assisting students with diverse learning needs including autism spectrum disorder 

As she prepares for graduation, Rebecca carries forward a perspective shaped by her time at AU, that different disciplines do not have to exist in isolation, but can strengthen one another.  

Her message to graduates: “Remember to always be curious. Always pursue all of your passions. Always take the opportunity to grow. Always carry love, creativity, and intellect with you. And as always, claws up!” 

Danny Tapp: Turning Data into Impact 

Danny Tapp (MS data science ’26) has spent his time at American University applying technical expertise to systems that directly support student success. He will speak in his commencement address about perseverance, the challenges that shaped his journey to graduation, and the people who made that journey possible. 

At the Washington College of Law, Danny worked in the Office of Career & Professional Development as a Database Coordinator, helping support the On-Campus Interview program. In this role, he collaborated with law firms, streamlined recruiting workflows, and ensured that student application materials were efficiently managed and delivered. 

Beyond maintaining systems, Danny focused on improving them. As a Dean’s Fellow, he developed tools using Python and R to automate time-intensive processes and replace manual workflows. His contributions helped advance a major data project ahead of schedule and improved the accuracy and usability of employment data used by the program. 

Prior to AU, Danny built a strong foundation in leadership and operations at the University of California, Santa Barbara. There, he coordinated student programs, advised organizational budgets, and developed systems to track student housing. Across these roles, he consistently focused on making complex processes more efficient and accessible. 

As he graduates with a 3.85 GPA, Danny’s work reflects a blend of technical skills and collaborative leadership. His academic and professional journey demonstrates a commitment to using data and innovation not just for efficiency, but to better support the communities they serve. 

His message to students: Be proud of who you are and what you have done, lean on the love in your life, and Eagles, may we imagine ourselves happy.