With more than 250 clubs and organizations at �鶹��Ƶ, students have countless opportunities to find purpose and meaning in life – and Alexa Nigriny ’28 may be one of the most actively involved in helping classmates do just that.

The psychology and human service studies major is involved in Yarn Arts, the Super Smash Bros. team for Club Esports, Music for Dementia, Psychology Club, �鶹��Ƶ Volunteers, Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, Sustainability Volunteers, the Student Union Board and even the Milk Club.

Beyond her clubs and organizations, Nigriny is a senior resident assistant in the Historic Neighborhood, a peer educator for �鶹��Ƶ 1010 and a SMART mentor in the Center for Race, Ethnicity & Diversity Education. In each of those jobs, she says, it’s important to build community.

As a senior resident assistant, Nigriny helps first-year students navigate their transition to college. What takes a floor in a residence hall and makes it into a community where all feel welcomed? The short answer: Get to really know the people you live and work next to rather than just passing them by.

“‘You have a place here. We need you here.’ Nurturing that feeling of being needed and being wanted in a place is so important,” Nigriny said. “That’s what makes and breaks a community. If you know you belong and that you were needed, you will stay.”

For Nigriny, community is about more than making connections. It’s about finding a place and purpose within those relationships. At �鶹��Ƶ, students take on many roles, from friends and classmates to mentors and leaders, each contributing to their sense of belonging.

“It is through the positions that we have here that give us our place and purposes and is one of the many things that make �鶹��Ƶ feel like home,” Nigriny said. “When you take time to get to know someone and realize how much you have in common or how similar you are, human connection is forged and community is built.”

But what Nigriny finds most rewarding is watching others discover where they belong. She sees a change in her friends, residents and classmates as they find their passions and begin to understand what they want from their college experience.

And in helping others find their place, Nigriny has discovered something about herself.

“For me being able to play even a small role in that is what makes me feel like I’m doing exactly what I’m meant to do,” she said, “helping people find their purposes, and helping people discover who they want to be – that is one of my purposes.”

Alexa Nigriny ’28 is part of Huemanity of People, a series by the Division of Inclusive Excellence highlighting the people, paradigms and praxis of inclusive excellence that shape �鶹��Ƶ’s community. Learn more on the Inclusive Excellence website.

“As an academic, my relationship is going out in the name of �鶹��Ƶ, even though I speak for myself,” said Balderas. “I’m always saying, ‘Here at �鶹��Ƶ, we don’t make small plans. We’re always thinking bigger, and because we are a national school, what would help us to continue to be a national school?’ To me, my responsibility as an academic is to get my name out there.”

For Balderas, that work is closely connected to the sense of belonging he has found at �鶹��Ƶ and the university’s teacher-scholar-mentor model. At the center of it all are his students.

“When my students leave, and the class is over, I say, ‘Love you. Mean it.’ And we throw the word love around a lot,” Balderas said. “But, to me, as a teacher, I think love from a teacher to a student is this idea, and it’s my ‘why.’ My ‘why’ is that I’m passionate about teaching students how to find their passion in a world that is out of control.”

The newsroom to the classroom

Balderas began his journalism career as a freelance reporter and producer for several outlets in Washington, D.C. His coverage of the 2000 presidential election helped spur an interest in legal studies, as did a friendly competition with his sister over who could earn the higher score on the LSAT.

Growing up in a single-parent Hispanic household, Balderas said education was “non-negotiable.” He went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America while working as a producer at FOX News Channel.

In the years that followed, Balderas worked for television stations across Florida, North Carolina and Texas. His work earned multiple industry accolades, including an Emmy for Best Continuing Coverage and recognition from the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas as best TV news anchor.

My ‘why’ is that I’m passionate about teaching students how to find their passion in a world that is out of control.

-Israel Balderas, assistant professor of journalism

Alongside his journalism career, Balderas took on legal work for the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, We The Action and the Society of Professional Journalists. His pro bono work included representing migrant children at the U.S.-Mexico border and helping nonprofits navigate financial aid during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2017, Balderas left television news to spend more time with his family and transitioned to higher education, first teaching at a university in West Palm Beach, Florida, before joining �鶹��Ƶ’s faculty in 2021.

“I love the mission of �鶹��Ƶ,” Balderas said. “The mission of �鶹��Ƶ is that it ‘embraces its founder’s vision of an academic community that transforms mind, body, and spirit and encourages freedom of thought and liberty of conscience.’ And I said during my interview, that’s what a First Amendment professor teaches. That’s it.”

Journalism major Lily Molina ’27 took Balderas’ Media Law & Ethics course and says having a Latino professor in the journalism department made her feel welcomed as an aspiring Latina journalist.

“I am really passionate about covering stories centered around my community, and Balderas has supported me in doing that. It’s comforting to have someone who I can speak Spanish to and not feel judged,” she said. “This is just one of the reasons why having diversity within departments is so important.”

Celebrating the beauty of diversity

A self-described “Texan American with a Mexican heart,” Balderas views Hispanic Heritage Month through the lens of the cultures that have shaped the United States.

“It’s about celebrating many cultures who have been able to adapt their cultures to this idea of ‘American citizen,’” he said. “What I love about Hispanic Heritage Month is that we get to show off the beauty of our diversity in a society that is diverse.”

Balderas describes that blending of cultures as a “stew,” one he sees reflected regularly on �鶹��Ƶ’s campus. He points to El Centro, a space within the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education that celebrates Latine and Hispanic cultures while sharing them with the broader �鶹��Ƶ community.

“Every time I go to El Centro, there are kids from all over, and they’re all happy, and they’re ready to tell us about their abuelita (grandmother), they’re ready to tell us about their family,” Balderas said. “They’re ready to tell us about the history of their country. And in sharing all that, we get to build community together.”

�鶹��Ƶ honors Hispanic Heritage Month

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, �鶹��Ƶ is sharing stories that celebrate the contributions, identities and experiences of students, faculty and staff. This month recognizes the rich histories and cultures of Hispanic and Latine communities, while also honoring the ways these traditions connect with and inspire people of all backgrounds. This month provides a special opportunity to honor Hispanic and Latine heritage, but it also serves as an invitation for all members of the university to engage, learn and celebrate together.

Her arrival at �鶹��Ƶ changed that perspective, giving her a broader view of how other members of the Latinx community understand and celebrate their own identities.

This new perspective has shaped Cassereau’s �鶹��Ƶ experience, influencing how she understands her identity as she explores her passion for working with marginalized communities.

“I really like working toward a goal that makes people’s lives better,” Cassereau said. “I want to work with people to have a positive impact in my community, in my country, with my people.”

At �鶹��Ƶ, opportunities both in and outside the classroom have introduced her to numerous career paths while helping her narrow her interests, ultimately showing her how economic development and empowerment can create meaningful change within communities.

One experience that has illustrated what that work can look like in practice is her involvement as a Periclean Scholar, now known as a Global Partnership Scholar.

Through the program, students work with community partners to develop mutually beneficial, sustainable partnerships. Cassereau’s cohort focused on the economic empowerment of marginalized communities in Sri Lanka, partnering with the .

Traveling with her cohort to Sri Lanka in summer 2025 gave Cassereau firsthand exposure to nonprofit work.

“Since I want to go into the nonprofit sector, it’s also been very eye-opening as to how nonprofits work,” Cassereau said.

The cohort has also partnered with , part of the Burlington Masjid, supporting the clinic through fundraising and website development while learning more about the community it serves.

Through these experiences, Mat Gendle, professor of psychology and faculty mentor to the Periclean Scholars program, has watched Cassereau grow into someone increasingly confident in navigating new experiences and determining the path she wants to pursue.

“She projects an easy and welcoming confidence that wasn’t present when I first knew her as a first-year student,” Gendle said. “It’s more of a projection of empowerment, [showing] that she’s confident in herself to know what she wants, figure things out and ask the right questions as she needs to.”

Gendle’s mentorship has also helped Cassereau better understand what it means to work alongside communities and how that understanding can apply to the work she hopes to pursue after �鶹��Ƶ.

“The way he sees the work we do has really impacted the way I see what I want to do,” Cassereau said. “It’s not only about helping, but it’s also about partnering and learning from the community.”

Gendle’s mentorship has also extended beyond the classroom, providing support that, he says, begins with taking an interest in who his students are and what they hope to accomplish.

“For Maria, I think ‘seeing’ her really does just come down to me taking a genuine and authentic interest in her life experiences, her goals and finding ways to create opportunities that will help move her in that direction,” Gendle said.

That sense of support and connection has extended into other areas of Cassereau’s �鶹��Ƶ experience, including her involvement with El Centro, where she has found a community that has also helped shape her interests and sense of belonging.

As a student coordinator, Cassereau works with staff to support El Centro programming and create a welcoming environment for students who visit the space, such as starting conversations or offering a friendly smile. While helping create that environment for others, Cassereau has also found her own sense of belonging within El Centro.

Cassereau’s interest in creating community extends beyond her work as a student coordinator. She also works with Kelly Bland, an international admissions counselor, to strengthen connections among international students.

At the same time, the communities Cassereau has found at �鶹��Ƶ have given her opportunities to learn from people whose experiences differ from her own, adding new meaning to the identity she grew up with in Mexico City.

“Hispanic Heritage Month has given me a broader understanding and helped me express my Latino identity in a different way,” Cassereau said. “Every year, I get a clearer idea of what it means to be Latina to me.”

�鶹��Ƶ honors Hispanic Heritage Month

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, �鶹��Ƶ is sharing stories that celebrate the contributions, identities and experiences of students, faculty and staff. This month recognizes the rich histories and cultures of Hispanic and Latine communities, while also honoring the ways these traditions connect with and inspire people of all backgrounds. This month provides a special opportunity to honor Hispanic and Latinx heritage, but it also serves as an invitation for all members of the university to engage, learn and celebrate together.

As an assistant director for the Center for Race, Ethnicity & Diversity Education, Gutierrez-Luviano manages El Centro, a space that promotes celebration, collaboration, dialogue and research to support advocacy, cultural appreciation and academic achievement related to Latin American cultures and the Spanish language.

“I want to help build belonging at �鶹��Ƶ by proactively engaging with our students’ voices to understand their needs and create inclusive spaces where they can feel supported,” she said.

Gutierrez-Luviano achieves this each day by supervising and mentoring students, organizing programming and events and developing educational workshops. Outside of her professional role, Gutierrez-Luviano participates in the Latinx/Hispanic Employee Resource Group, which she says is an important program at �鶹��Ƶ that supports her cultural identity as she navigates her professional role.

A first-generation Mexican-American, Gutierrez-Luviano’s parents moved from Michoacán, Mexico, to Wilson, North Carolina, where she was born and raised. She remembers regularly going to a Hispanic flea market growing up, where her parents allowed her and her siblings to buy one item during most visits. Gutierrez-Luviano would often pick a snack like raspado (shaved ice), nieve de coco or fresh cut fruit with tajin and Chamoy while navigating vendors with the backdrop of loud music coming from each stand.

She attended Barton College in her hometown for her undergraduate degrees in business administration and Spanish and earned a master’s at the University of Georgia in college student affairs administration.

“As a first-generation Mexican-American, there were times throughout my undergraduate experience where I did not know what questions to ask, or what I should be doing to be successful,” said Gutierrez-Luvianos, highlighting why she values playing a mentoring role for students.

“I had wonderful mentors who saw potential in me and guided me in the right direction,” she added. “I want to serve my students in that same way, especially if we may share similar cultural experiences because it adds a layer of connection.”

Gutierrez-Luviano said her mentorship begins with curiosity – understanding where students want to be in the future, what worries them and ways to build confidence. “I see potential in my students and guide them in the right direction by listening to their hopes, their goals, and their worries,” she shared.

Hispanic Heritage Month, she said, “honors our contributions, while inviting everyone to immerse themselves into our culture, and traditions that keep our community strong.”

�鶹��Ƶ honors Hispanic Heritage Month

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, �鶹��Ƶ is sharing stories that celebrate the contributions, identities and experiences of students, faculty and staff. This month recognizes the rich histories and cultures of Hispanic and Latinx communities, while also honoring the ways these traditions connect with and inspire people of all backgrounds. This month provides a special opportunity to honor Hispanic and Latinx heritage, but it also serves as an invitation for all members of the university to engage, learn and celebrate together.

“We invite the �鶹��Ƶ community to join us in celebrating and honoring Hispanic Heritage Month by immersing ourselves in the vibrant art, music, food, and traditions that unite and inspire the community,” Amy Gutierrez-Luviano, assistant director of the CREDE, said. “By doing so, we are creating supportive spaces focused on mental, physical and holistic health that uplift the community.

Observed annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes and honors the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities in the United States. Established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week, the celebration expanded to a month-long observance under President Ronald Reagan in 1988 and became law on Aug. 17 that year. The month highlights the lasting impact of Hispanic and Latinx individuals across various fields, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of their vital role in shaping American society.

The celebration begins with the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with Mexico and Chile following shortly after on Sept. 16 and 18.

Hispanic Heritage Month programming at �鶹��Ƶ will run from Sept. 10 to Oct. 30. Highlights of this year’s events include the annual Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff and “Crossing Borders: Images of Migration and Voices of Minorities,” featuring film producer and poet Françoise Nieto-Fong, sponsored by Latin American Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, the Department of World Languages and Cultures, the Center for Advancement of Teaching nd Learning, and Belk Library.

Hispanic Heritage Month 2026 events at �鶹��Ƶ

Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff

Tuesday, Sept. 15

5:30 p.m. | Medallion Plaza

Crossing Borders: Images of Migration and Voices of Minorities

Wednesday, Sept. 16 

2-3:40 p.m. | Turner Theatre

Campus Screening: Sunset over America and The Return-Family Separation

Sponsored by Latin American Studies; Peace and Conflict Studies; the Department of World Languages and Cultures; the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning; Belk Library.

Noche Latina

Tuesday, Sept. 29

7 p.m. | Rudd Field

Perspectivas

Wednesday, Sept. 30

5:30-7 p.m. | McKinnon Hall

Soccer Tournament

Friday, Oct. 2

4-8 p.m. | Intramural Fields

Perspectivas

Thursday, Oct. 8

5:30-7 p.m. | McKinnon Hall

Café con Leche Homecoming Edition

Friday, Oct. 9

3:30-5 p.m. | El Centro (Carlton 114)

Café con Leche w/ friends!

Monday, Oct. 19

5:30-7 p.m. | Irazú

Gala Latina

Friday, Oct. 30

5:30-8 p.m. | McKinnon Hall

Explore the detailed schedule of events for Hispanic Heritage Month on the CREDE website. For questions or more information, please contact Amy Gutierrez-Luviano at agutierrezluviano@elon.edu.

The HEED Award is a prestigious honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to academic excellence, belonging and community-building across all levels of campus life.

�鶹��Ƶ will be featured, along with 60 other recipients, in the October 2026 issue of Insight Into Academia magazine. This latest honor recognizes the work �鶹��Ƶ as an institution, and its students do to make a more inclusive community.

“What continues to distinguish �鶹��Ƶ is that inclusive excellence is central to how we define educational excellence. We put people, relationships, and human differences at the heart of learning and at the foundation of a meaningful personal, professional, and civic life,” said Randy Williams, vice president for inclusive excellence. “Across the university, we share responsibility for creating an environment where people are seen, valued, and affirmed in their identities and can experience a genuine sense of belonging.”

The magazine uses a detailed scoring process, a holistic approach and a team of experienced higher education professionals to review each application.

“Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where academic excellence and belonging are woven into the work being done every day across their campus,” said Lenore Pearlstein, co-publisher of Insight into Academia magazine.

Over the past several years, �鶹��Ƶ has expanded its SMART mentor program (which connects first-year students with upperclass students) to support and mentor more students. The university has also expanded use of Living Learning Communities, including the new Mi Casa community. International student support efforts have also increased with the addition of a new staff member in that office to better support students with visas at �鶹��Ƶ.

In the summer of 2026, �鶹��Ƶ will also begin the �鶹��Ƶ Launch program, a 6-credit, 3-week residential transition program to give incoming students an intentional start on college life. �鶹��Ƶ Launch is intentionally designed to meet the needs of neurodiverse students, including those with ADHD, autism spectrum conditions, anxiety or executive functioning challenges.

The university’s fly-in program, �鶹��ƵYOU, is specifically designed to open access for students who would otherwise not be able to visit campus. The program fully funds travel and an overnight stay at �鶹��Ƶ. Additionally, the program offers up to $250 in travel support for parents/guardians/supporters.

Williams acknowledged the following �鶹��Ƶ faculty and staff who contributed information and suggestions for the award application:

• Naeemah Clark, Associate Provost for Academic Inclusive Excellence
• Mike Haskins, Vice President for Marketing and Communications
• Monica Isbell, Director of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility
• Kimberly Romero, Assistant Dean of Admissions for Inclusive Excellence
• Rob Springer, Senior Advisor for Institutional Effectiveness
• Paul Tongsri, Assistant Dean for Student Success and Retention

For more information about the 2026 HEED Award, visit .

�鶹��Ƶ Insight Into Academia

Insight Into Academia magazine is the leader in advancing best practices in higher education excellence. Through thought-provoking print and online articles, we share expert advice, valuable resources, in-depth profiles of top programs at colleges and universities, headline news, and much more to help keep our readers informed and empower them to advance initiatives at their institutions. Current, archived, and digital issues of Insight Into Academia magazine are available online at insightintoacademia.com.

The series connects two significant milestones in American history — the nation’s 250th anniversary and the 161st anniversary of Juneteenth — through opportunities to explore the ongoing pursuit of freedom, equality and justice.

“This series offers our community an opportunity to reflect on the diverse significance of two historical celebrations during a complex contemporary moment. As we commemorate 250 years of American independence, it is a joyous yet complicated time,” said Carla Fullwood, director of inclusive excellence education and development. “Many communities, particularly historically marginalized communities based on race, have not experienced our nation’s principles of freedom, equality, and justice in the same way across the past 250 years. That is evident in the significance of Juneteenth, which marks the moment enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were notified of the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been signed years earlier. And that declaration on June 19, 1865 does not account for the many enslaved people who remained in bondage across the South, and in several Union states, for months after.

Summer Race, Reflection & Discussion

Faculty and staff participating in the Summer Race, Reflection & Discussion series will gather June 9-18 for facilitated conversations inspired by “The Racial Healing Handbook: Practical Activities to Help You Challenge Privilege, Confront Systemic Racism, and Engage in Collective Healing” by Anneliese Singh.

Through the lens of racial healing, participants will explore how race and racism have shaped Americans’ experiences of foundational democratic ideals and consider what concepts such as freedom, equality and justice mean in their own lives and communities.

Registration for the Summer Race, Reflection & Discussion series is now closed. Registered participants should have received their copy of “The Racial Healing Handbook.” Additional details will be shared directly with participants.

Juneteenth Commemoration Activities

The Inclusive Excellence Summer Development Series culminates June 18 with a day of educational experiences, reflection and celebration.

Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum & State Historic Site Tour

From 9 to 11:30 a.m., faculty and staff can visit the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum & State Historic Site, home of the historic Palmer Memorial Institute, a pioneering educational institution for African American students in North Carolina. Participants should begin boarding the bus at 8:45 a.m.; transportation will depart campus promptly at 9 a.m. from the �鶹��Ƶ sign near the Inman Admissions Building.

Freedom Footprints

Beginning June 8, members of the �鶹��Ƶ community can explore Black history, activism and achievement at �鶹��Ƶ through . The self-guided experience includes campus walking tour stops marked by lawn signs featuring QR codes that connect visitors to additional historical information.

On June 18, Shaunta Alvarez, interim coordinator of University Archives, Digital Collections & Systems Librarian and associate librarian, will lead a guided version of the tour. Weather permitting, participants will depart from Lakeside 213/214 at 1:45 p.m. following the Summer Race, Reflection & Discussion session. No registration is required.

Emancipation Celebration

The day concludes with Together@�鶹��Ƶ’s Emancipation Celebration from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in McKinnon Hall within Moseley Center. Community members are invited to enjoy a Juneteenth exhibit, music, sweet treats and games while celebrating freedom, resilience and community. Participants can compete in a Spades tournament for prizes or join casually to learn or teach the game. Individuals and teams of two are welcome to

The Inclusive Excellence Summer Development Series is a collaborative initiative supported by Belk Library, Black Lumen Project, the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE), the Committee on �鶹��Ƶ History and Memory, �鶹��Ƶ Archives and Special Collections, HealthEU Initiatives, the Office of Inclusive Excellence Education and Development (OIEED), the Office of Leadership and Professional Development (OLPD), Together@�鶹��Ƶ/Staff Advisory Council and other campus partners.

The events offered through this summer series give us an opportunity to explore that complexity with honesty and care,” Fullwood said. “The Summer Race, Reflection & Discussion series creates space to unpack our understanding of these complexities through dialogue and storytelling. The Freedom Footprints tour and Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum tour center narratives about Black experiences that are often untold or minimized in the context of American history. Closing the series with the Together@�鶹��Ƶ event allows us to root all of this learning in community-building. We are proud to offer �鶹��Ƶ faculty and staff opportunities to learn, reflect, and heal together.”

As they prepare to leave �鶹��Ƶ, many members of the Class of 2026 gathered in Lakeside Meeting Rooms on May 21 for a celebration centered not only on achievement, but also on the people and communities that helped them get there.

Celebremos! Graduates Take Flight brought together 37 seniors and their families, mentors and friends to honor their journeys for an afternoon of reflection, gratitude and celebration. Throughout the program, students shared personal tributes recognizing the sacrifices, encouragement and support systems that shaped their �鶹��Ƶ experiences.

President Connie Ledoux Book reminded the soon-to-be graduates that the stole they were about to receive was not only a recognition of their academic accomplishments, but also a testament to their pride, culture and identity.

“The �鶹��Ƶ community is proud of your achievements, your stories and the richness that you have added to �鶹��Ƶ’s history during your time here,” she said, adding that this is just the beginning. She asked them to take �鶹��Ƶ with them in all endeavors and to stay connected to their alma mater. “I do hope that you’ll continue to reach back to �鶹��Ƶ and the community here to share your story, to share your �鶹��Ƶ experience and to root for the next generation of �鶹��Ƶ grads.”

Each graduate had the opportunity to write a message of gratitude for their village in the language of their choice. Many of them took the opportunity to publicly thank parents and loved ones whose sacrifices made college possible.

“As a first-generation Hispanic college student, there were many moments where I felt like I was figuring things out as I went,” wrote Isabella Ibañez, whose family heritage is from Argentina. “My parents immigrated here and worked hard to create opportunities for me and my siblings, even when they did not always have a roadmap themselves.”

Others reflected on the emotional complexity of reaching graduation after years of uncertainty, growth and perseverance.

“I’ve been asked a lot recently about how I feel about graduating,” drama and theatre studies major Samantha Azúa wrote. “Without so much as a second thought, I’m quick to respond with ‘existential.’” In her tribute, Azúa thanked her parents for the sacrifices they made in moving to the United States and for teaching her to take advantage of every opportunity and to “trabajar duro y nunca rendirme, incluso cuando las cosas se ponen muy difíciles.”

For fellow graduating senior Libia Zulema Velasquez, hearing younger students reflect on the sacrifices their parents made for them was particularly meaningful. A mother herself who uprooted her family from Culiacán in northwestern Mexico to pursue a Master of Education in Innovation at �鶹��Ƶ, she understood all too well the significance of those words. “I kept looking at my children,” she said. “I can identify with that sacrifice.”

As part of her reflection, she had these words for Liam and Leo: “A mis hijos quiero decirles que: todo es posible. Todo se puede alcanzar. Solo hace falta pensarlo, decidirlo … y actuar.”

The stories shared throughout the event reflected a wide range of experiences, but common themes emerged repeatedly: family, belonging, mentorship and resilience.

For Daniela Ávila, graduating meant carrying her hometown in Honduras with her into the future.

“Hoy, al celebrar mi graduación, llevo a mi pueblo conmigo en cada paso que doy,” she wrote. “Me siento profundamente orgullosa de mis raíces y de representar a una comunidad llena de personas trabajadoras, artesanos y luchadores que inspiran con su ejemplo.”

Several graduates specifically highlighted the communities they found at �鶹��Ƶ: spaces and people that helped transform the university into a second home. Others recognized the role programs such as Odyssey and �鶹��Ƶ Academy played in helping them navigate college and pursue opportunities they once thought impossible.

“Odyssey no solo me brindó apoyo académico, sino también un sentido de pertenencia y una red de personas que realmente creen en mi potencial,” wrote Jesús Santoyo Rosales, who is graduating with a degree in biomedical and mechanical engineering. “Este logro no es solo mío, es de todos nosotros” — a reminder that “this achievement is not only mine; it belongs to all of us.”

“Your story matters and the way you live with integrity, with empathy and love will continue to inspire those around you.”
— Sylvia Muñoz, director of the CREDE

The event also highlighted the deeply personal nature of students’ journeys. Some graduates thanked siblings who inspired them, grandparents who sacrificed for future generations, professors who saw potential in them and friends who became family.

“Growth does not happen alone,” Ibañez wrote. “It comes from the people who support you, challenge you, and remind you that you are capable even when you doubt yourself.”

For many students, graduation represented more than earning a degree; it symbolized the culmination of years of sacrifice that stretched far beyond themselves.

“Como hija mayor y primera generación en graduarme de la escuela secundaria y ahora de la universidad, llevo este logro con orgullo, pero también con responsabilidad,” wrote Carolina Vasquez. “Siempre he querido ser un buen ejemplo para mis hermanos, demostrarles que sí se puede, que nuestros sueños no tienen límites.”

In her charge to the students, Diana Jimenez Carreno challenged graduates to be present in the moment and proud of what they have accomplished. Above all, she encouraged them to never forget their roots or the strong voices they carry within them.

“Do not let stereotypes, stigma or negativity in the world silence that voice,” she said. “And believe me, it’s easier said than done. But you’re not alone. And when life feels overwhelming, lean on your village.”

Sylvia Muñoz, assistant dean of students and director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education, echoed that sentiment in her closing remarks. “As you begin this next chapter, remember your voice matters,” she said. “Your story matters and the way you live with integrity, with empathy and love will continue to inspire those around you.”

As the celebration concluded, students embraced family members, posed for photos and reflected on the communities that carried them through their �鶹��Ƶ journeys.

“I just feel so thankful and so blessed,” Velasquez said, reflecting on the event. There is one message, she added, that she plans to carry with her moving forward: “Disfruta el momento.”

Her remarks reflected the evening’s themes of belonging, connection and growth as students, faculty and staff gathered to honor graduating seniors who have engaged in or identify with Asian and Pacific Islander cultures and traditions.

“This community met me where I was, and I have you all to thank for helping me find my way into it,” said Wible.

Throughout the evening, the celebration included award recognitions, a stole ceremony and concluded with student performances. Awards presented during the celebration included the Beacon Award, Asian Studies Awards, Academic Excellence Awards, Illumination Award, Radiance Award, Outstanding Senior Award and student-voted superlatives recognizing members of the Asian and Pacific Islander community.

The stole ceremony served as one of the ceremony’s most symbolic moments, symbolizing connection to heritage, identity and community. Along with their stole, students received a booklet of cards from prominent individuals who helped light their way during their �鶹��Ƶ journey.

Co-designed by Tiffany Huang ’23 and Alana Evora ’24, the stole featured flower petals as a motif representing the diversity and individuality within the Asian and Pacific Islander community.

The design also aligned with the 2026 Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month theme, “Distinctly in Bloom, Growing Together,” which resonated throughout the evening in the celebration’s remarks and intentional decor. Each table centerpiece highlighted a different flower representing various aspects of the Asian and Pacific Islander community. It also included mall booklet containing cards from people who have lit the way for their journey at �鶹��Ƶ.

“Each flower represents the individuality and the uniqueness within our communities, whilst also reminding us of what ties all of us together,” said George Dou, assistant director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education.

Dou also spoke about the importance of community and shared growth.

“Each senior participating in our ceremony tonight has traced a unique path in the way that they have bloomed during their time here at �鶹��Ƶ,” Dou said. “Growth, in many ways, cannot happen without a community.”

As the evening concluded, Wible reminded students that the spirit of community does not end with the night’s celebration, encouraging them to continue supporting and empowering each other beyond �鶹��Ƶ.

“The light doesn’t go out when tonight ends — it goes with us into every room, every community and every person that needs to find their way in,” Wible said.

2026 Award Recipients

Beacon Award 

The Beacon Awards are given to two faculty or staff members who have gone above and beyond to be a beacon of support to the API community at �鶹��Ƶ.

Beacon Award Recipients: Hillary Zaken, director of multifaith programming and engagement and Raj Ghoshal, associate professor of sociology

Illumination Award

The Illumination Award recognizes a student whose scholarship has shed light on the understanding of APISA identities, cultures, history or heritage.

Illumination Award Recipient: Emma Hash ’26

Radiance Award

The Radiance Award recognizes a sophomore or junior student who has shown great dedication, passion, or awareness around API identities or topics at �鶹��Ƶ. This individual has gone above and beyond to create a more inclusive and representative campus for �鶹��Ƶ as a whole.

Radiance Award Recipient: Emily Wright ’27

Brilliance Award

Formerly the Outstanding Senior Award, the Brilliance Award recognizes the leadership, dedication and the impact a graduating senior has made on the Asian and Pacific Islander community throughout their journey at �鶹��Ƶ.

Brilliance Award Recipient: Reagan Wible ’26

Student Superlatives 

• Most Likely To Be In The API Room: Pagnapech Ngoun ’26
• Most Likely To Be On A Reality TV Show: Olivia Mohil ’27
• Most Likely To Brighten Your Day: Seleyna Bautista ’26
• Busiest Bee: Lillian Chen ’26

Grounded in a legacy of honoring Black excellence, the program reflects its enduring impact at �鶹��Ƶ through resilience, achievement and a deep commitment to advancing equity, belonging and community both on campus and beyond.

The program included opening remarks from Abdul-Malik Harrison, assistant director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education, followed by an invocation from the Rev. Kirstin Boswell, university chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement. Remarks were given by President Connie Ledoux Book, and a special video tribute was presented in honor of Janice Ratliff, who passed away earlier this year.

“In recognition of a remarkable legacy, we honor Janice Ratliff, who devoted more than 35 years of service to �鶹��Ƶ, shaping generations of students through her work in Student Life,” said Maleah Proctor ’26, Black Student Union president, during the awards ceremony. “Her legacy lives through the many students she mentored and uplifted, and through the historic recognition of being the first Black staff member to have a campus building named in her honor.”

New to this year’s ceremony were the Legacy and Community Impact awards, recognizing undergraduate students, faculty, staff, organizations and departments whose leadership, advocacy, creativity and innovation have strengthened Black communities and advanced inclusion at �鶹��Ƶ.

The new honors include the Glenda Phillips-Hightower Trailblazer Award, the Eugene Perry Legacy Award, the Community Impact Awards (Agendas of Change and Innovator in Empowerment) and the Creative Leadership in Artistic Expression Award.

Additional honors recognized academic achievement, including students named to the dean’s list (3.5 GPA) and the President’s Award, which recognizes students earning no lower than an A-, the �鶹��Ƶ Black Alumni Network Scholarship and the Wilhelmina Boyd AAASE Scholar Award.

�鶹��Ƶ Black Alumni Network Scholarship Award

The �鶹��Ƶ Black Alumni Network (EBAN) strives to unite and represent the interests of �鶹��Ƶ’s  Black alumni and students by fostering empowerment, connection and celebration within �鶹��Ƶ’s Black community. In 2007, EBAN established a scholarship fund to help make an �鶹��Ƶ education accessible to Black students. This fund reached a significant milestone in 2023, achieving a $1 million endowment, further strengthening its ability to support future generations.

�鶹��Ƶ Black Alumni Network Scholarship Recipient: Laila Cottman ‘28 and Kavalon Mills ‘27

�鶹��Ƶ Experiences Awards

The �鶹��Ƶ Experiences Awards honor students who exemplify the university’s commitment to engaged learning through transformative action, global perspective, and meaningful impact. These awards recognize students whose leadership, service, research, global engagement and internship experiences have significantly advanced and enriched Black communities.

Global Engagement Award

The Global Engagement Award celebrates students who have excelled in study abroad or global learning, deepening intercultural understanding and awareness. This award recognizes students who have engaged in global experiences that have enhanced their understanding of Black diasporic cultures and fostered cross-cultural solidarity.

Global Engagement Award Recipient: Kendall Lytle ’26

Internship Award

The Internship Award recognizes students whose professional internships demonstrate exceptional performance, impact and the ability to connect classroom learning with workplace success. This award celebrates students whose internships have involved work that supports or advocates for Black communities, promoting diversity and inclusion in professional settings.

Internship Award Recipient: Andrea Camo Conde ’26

Leadership Award

The Leadership Award recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in organizations, initiatives, or campus life, inspiring others through their vision and service. This award honors students whose leadership has advanced racial equity, fostered an inclusive campus environment and empowered Black communities.

Leadership Award Recipients: Will Lankford ’26 and Maleah Proctor ’26

Service & Civic Engagement Award

The Service & Civic Engagement Award honors students whose sustained commitment strengthens Black communities through service efforts that foster community empowerment, address systemic challenges and/or promote social justice and equity.

Service & Civic Engagement Award Recipient: Kristina “Krissy” Randolph ’26

Undergraduate Research Award

The Undergraduate Research Award honors students who contribute to the creation of new knowledge through research or creative activity. This award recognizes students whose research has advanced the understanding of issues affecting Black communities, contributing to academic discourse and social change.

Undergraduate Research Award Recipient: Haleigh Cephus ’26 and Niara Legette ’26

Legacy Awards

The Legacy Awards are the highest honors of the Phillips-Perry Excellence Awards. Named after Glenda Phillips-Hightower and Eugene Perry, these awards honor the courage, resilience and determination that redefined what was possible at �鶹��Ƶ and laid out the foundation for greater equity and inclusion.

Glenda Phillips-Hightower Trailblazer Award

Recipients of this award honor Glenda Phillips-Hightower’s trailblazing spirit by demonstrating perseverance, uplifting others through mentorship and advocacy, and fostering a stronger sense of belonging within the �鶹��Ƶ community.

Glenda Phillips-Hightower Trailblazer Award Recipient: Jordyne Lewis ’27

Eugene Perry Legacy Award

Recipients of this award honor Eugene Perry’s legacy by breaking barriers, excelling in their pursuits, and creating opportunities for others, fostering inclusion through mentorship, advocacy or innovation.

Eugene Perry Legacy Award Recipient: Mackenzie Perry ’26

Community Impact Awards

The Community Impact Awards celebrate students, organizations or departments who make meaningful contributions to the Black experience at �鶹��Ƶ and communities beyond the campus. These awards honor leadership, creativity and innovation in advancing equity, inclusion, wellness, and cultural expression. Recipients are recognized for their efforts to uplift Black voices, foster community and create a positive, lasting impact.

Agents of Change Award

The Agents of Change Award recognizes a student, campus organization or university department that has led initiatives resulting in meaningful community impact. It celebrates leadership, empowerment and a commitment to inclusion and equity by honoring those who elevate underrepresented voices and foster environments of belonging, connection and opportunity that strengthen Black communities at �鶹��Ƶ and beyond.

Agents of Change Award Recipient: Nailah Ware ’26

Innovator in Empowerment Award

The Innovator in Empowerment Award honors students who demonstrate creativity and innovation in advancing wellness, equity and success within Black communities. Recipients are recognized for developing ideas, initiatives, or approaches that positively impact individuals, promote inclusion and opportunity and strengthen community. Honorees exemplify originality, problem-solving and the ability to create meaningful change that supports the well-being, advancement, and visibility of Black communities on campus and beyond.

Innovator in Empowerment Award Recipient: Nailah Ware ’26

Creative Leadership in Artistic Expression Award

The Creative Leadership in Artistic Expression Award honors students who demonstrate leadership and excellence in artistic expression, such as music, dance, visual arts, spoken word or other creative forms. Recipients are recognized for their vision, creativity and initiative in amplifying Black cultural expression and fostering community on campus. The award celebrates students whose artistic contributions inspire, uplift, and engage others, building spaces of pride, connection, and visibility for Black communities.

Creative Leadership in Artistic Expression Award Recipient: Madison McCrainey ’26

The Wilhelmina Boyd African & African American Studies at �鶹��Ƶ (AAASE) Award

The Wilhelmina Boyd AAASE Scholar Award was created in the Spring of 2008 to honor the work and contributions of Professor Wilhelmina Boyd’s 18 years of service to �鶹��Ƶ and African & African-American Studies. The award recipient must be a graduating senior with an African & African-American Studies minor, a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and a minimum GPA in the minor of 3.2. In addition, the recipient must demonstrate a commitment to African & African-American Studies as demonstrated through coursework, citizenship/community engagement, scholarship and student activities/leadership.

Wilhelmina Boyd AAASE Scholar Award Recipient: Kendall Lytle ’26