Victoria Casteel and nine other gifted students made up the inaugural cohort of STEM STARS when they arrived at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in the fall of 2023.
Now just three years later, Casteel will be one of the first from that cohort to earn an undergraduate degree and participate in the UMES’ 139th Spring Commencement on May 15.
“I was very eager to start my education as early as possible because my career choice is going into medicine,” said Casteel, an allied health major from Upper Marlboro, Maryland. “I’m going to be a plastic surgeon focusing on reconstruction, and that’s something that will take up to 16 years to complete everything.”
Casteel and her fellow cohort members participated in an immersive experience through the prestigious STEM STARS program, which is designed to increase PhDs and MD-PhDs in science and technology from underrepresented groups. Casteel also got the opportunity to both be mentored and serve as a mentor through the program.
“I was trying to help answer any questions I could and be a good example of what they could do on campus,” she said. “I tried to push everyone into joining at least one club and to try and bond with the members of their cohort because these are the students you’ll be surrounded by over the next four years.”
In addition to being a STEM STAR, during her time at UMES, Casteel has been a member of the Student Government Association, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), Women of Respect Tact and Honor (WORTH), the Hawk Ambassador program, and the Richard A. Henson Honors program. She also participated in various study abroad opportunities.
“When people ask what my hobbies are, I always say student leadership is one of them, because it’s something I’m enthusiastic about,” Casteel said. “It was something that helped distract me from the heavy workload, and it’s something I enjoyed doing.”
Dr. Tiara Cornelius, executive director of the STEM STARS program, said Casteel epitomizes what can be done when students are given the necessary resources to succeed.
“Victoria represents the very best of what our program can achieve,” Cornelius said. “She completed a rigorous curriculum in three years while being involved in various organizations, including the SGA. We are incredibly proud to see her graduate with a heart of service and a desire to give back to the institution that supported her.”
Following graduation, Casteel plans to take a gap year before focusing on medical school.
Casteel, who is an avid pop culture fan, said her interest in medicine stemmed from growing up watching TV shows such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Untold Stories of the E.R.,” and “Botched.” It was the latter show that also had an impact on why she chose surgical reconstruction.
“Society often views plastic surgery as something cosmetic for people who are insecure about their appearance and that’s not always the case,” she said. “There are people who have never had a choice in the changes to their body or appearance. Reconstructive plastic surgery gives people the opportunity to heal, regain confidence in themselves, and feel comfortable again after trauma, illness, accidents, or previous surgeries.”
Reflecting on her time at UMES, Casteel sees her journey similarly to a TV show ready to change locations and characters.
“This is just seasons one through three of a show that’s never ending,” she said. “It was definitely a lot of chapters that happened, but I would say that I’ve lived the full college experience within those three years alone.”
