Being honored with the University Medal as the top graduating senior of 2025 is Avantika Gokulnatha of San Jose.
Excelling in both academic studies and service, Gokulnatha throughout her schooling has served in hospice centers, senior living facilities, and has even helped provide free medical care to uninsured and marginalized communities.
Gokulnatha says it's a passion project inspired by her late grandfather back home in India.
The small act of kindness has made a big impact for 95-year-old Jack McGruder, a resident at the Village at Rancho Solano senior living facility in Fairfield.
"They could be out partying, having a good time. But they're here saying, 'hit this button, hit that button,'" said McGruder. "It makes a big difference because a lot of us old geezers don't know how to do that. That makes your life very isolated."
As Gokulnatha studies aging, she is on a mission to innovate the way we grow old in her career to come.
She also taught McGruder how to watch the commencement live stream online so he can see her cross the stage on Saturday.
Born in 1929, McGruder has seen more than most. He served in the United States Army during the occupation of Germany just after WWII ended.
To any youngster who will listen, Jack offers simple advice.
Gokulnatha learned that sometimes the lessons that last a lifetime are taught outside the classroom.
Up next, she is taking a gap year while applying for medical school. Gokulnatha is a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award recipient which will support her studies at the Max Planck Institute for the Biology of Ageing in Cologne, Germany.
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