Baruch College Announces Valedictorian and Salutatorian for Class of 2023

May 12, 2023

Baruch College named Emanuela Gallo and Daniel Ugalde, respectively, as the Valedictorian and Salutatorian for the Class of 2023.

Gallo and Ugalde—both the first in their families to graduate college—were selected for their academic excellence, leadership in community engagement, and communication skills.

On May 30, Gallo will deliver the valedictory address at Baruch’s Commencement Ceremony at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Ugalde was the featured speaker for the College’s Student Achievement Awards that took place on May 11.

Emanuela Gallo: Law School is Next

Gallo will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts from Baruch College and Macaulay Honors College with majors in journalism and political science and minors in New York City Interdisciplinary Studies and Italian.

“Being named the Class of 2023 Valedictorian is an incredible honor that I am both grateful and humbled to receive,” said Gallo, whose dad immigrated from Italy to the United States in the 1970s and her mother came in the 1990s.

“It is exciting to have the opportunity to represent my talented and accomplished peers. Deciding to attend Macaulay at Baruch was one of the best decisions of my life. I am grateful for the myriad of opportunities I found here.”

During her time at Baruch, Gallo held leadership positions at The Ticker, the College’s undergraduate student-run newspaper, including serving as its undergraduate student government columnist, news editor, and current editor-in-chief. She was active in the Max Berger Pre-Law Society, holding positions of co-president and director of mentorship. Gallo was also an Honors Program Ambassador, Orientation Leader, First-Year Peer Mentor, and participant in the Conversation Partners Program.

Gallo won three writing contests by the Harman Writer-in-Residence Program as well as Baruch’s 2022 Supporting First Generation College Student Writing & Art Contest. She also received the 2022 Morton Wollman Award for Outstanding Achievement in Law and the 2021 Edyth Becker Scholarship in Creative Writing.

The 2023 Valedictorian interned at Fox News and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. She also completed Fordham Law School’s IDEAL Pipeline Program, which will place her in a legal internship this summer. She plans to apply to law school this fall and enroll next year.

“Within my two fields of academic study—journalism and political science—I cultivated skills essential to the legal profession: writing, editing, reading, analysis, and research. Baruch turned my interest in law into tangible plans and experiences. I had no idea how to approach the law school application process until I attended Baruch Pre-Law Society meetings. The club, along with the amazing Max Berger Pre-Law Program, has set me up for success.”

Gallo added, “I have truly loved every moment here at Baruch. I have gained knowledge, skills, mentors, opportunities, friendships, and fun. I will terribly miss being a Bearcat.”

Daniel Ugalde: Future Leader in Commercial Real Estate

Daniel Ugalde, who was born in Ecuador and immigrated to the United States when he was five years old, will graduate with a BBA in finance and a minor in Spanish.

Ugalde credits his parents for motivating him towards becoming the first in his family to graduate from college, calling it a “momentous achievement.”

“Being named Salutatorian is very special to me because it serves as a reminder of what a good attitude, strong work ethic, and a supportive environment can help you accomplish,” Ugalde states. “Throughout my academic and pre-professional ventures, my parents always supported me and had high expectations for me. With their trust and belief in what I could achieve, I never viewed getting to college as my only motivation. I sought to push myself academically and lead with the values they instilled in me.”

During his college career, Ugalde was passionate about helping other students. He was deeply involved with the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), serving as co-director of professional development, vice president, and most recently, as its president. Through ALPFA’s Accelerator Program, he mentored students and helped them find internships and full-time jobs.

Ugalde further engaged with students through the Collegiate Real Estate Network (CREN) where he served as the vice president of diversity and inclusion. The 2023 Salutatorian was also a member of the Baruch Investment Management Group and the Initiative for the Study of Latin America at Baruch. Ugalde was the chief economist on Baruch’s case competition team that placed second in the Kislak Real Estate Institute Real Estate Competition in 2020.

Outside of Baruch, Ugalde volunteered for the non-profit America Needs You and taught martial arts classes to children for many years.

Last summer, Ugalde completed an analyst internship at Blackstone, focusing on real estate debt strategies. He has accepted a full-time offer to work for the company’s Commercial Real Estate Group after graduation.

“I love learning and intend to carry this quality with me once I start working,” Ugalde says. “I look forward to developing a robust skill set and network [at Blackstone] to eventually act as a leader in the commercial real estate industry. In doing so, I hope to bring a new perspective to investments, given my background, and support projects that shape communities for the better.”

He adds, “On a separate note, I also love teaching, and think it is one of the best ways to help one another. As such, I aspire to one day teach a real estate class at Baruch College.”

# # #