2024 MGC Program

Transcript

1. Multicultural Graduation Ceremony Bunn Intercultural Center Auditorium May 18, 2023 Multicultural Graduation Ceremony Bunn Intercultural Center Auditorium May 16, 2024
2. | 2 Welcome to the 2024 Multicultural Graduation Ceremonies On behalf of the Center for Multicultural Equity & Access, I would like to express how deeply grateful we are to each of you for bringing your unique perspectives and powerful stories to Georgetown University. So much has happened locally, nationally, and globally since we first welcomed you to campus. Today this context enriches not only why we are here but how we are here: in community with each other, sharing hope and memories with your professors, fellow graduates, families, friends, and ancestors. We see you. We are proud of you. We are inspired by you and all that is to come. But today is as much about reflection as it is about the hope-filled futures you have so brilliantly set up for yourselves. Commencement is a time to examine the defining moments that shaped your time on the Hilltop. Using your impressive gifts and vibrant spirits, you have engaged in scholarship and advocacy while remaining resilient through adversity. You will now join a diverse global alumni community by adding your new narratives to a reimagined and ongoing Georgetown legacy. To this bold and talented Class of 2024 we say, go forth generously, courageously, and triumphantly. Hoya Saxa! Charlene Brown-McKenzie MSW, LICSW, C'95, G'23 Director, Center for Multicultural Equity & Access Division of Student Affairs
3. | 3 Asian Heritage | 6:00 PM The Asian Heritage Ceremony, established in 2011, recognizes and celebrates the achievements of our Asian American and Pacific Islander graduates and allies of the Georgetown University AAPI community. In particular, this ceremony honors the distinctive accomplishments of our graduates and commemorates the unique cultures that have shaped their journeys here on the Hilltop. Ultimately, we hope to showcase our graduates’ dedication to the greater AAPI community during their time at Georgetown and encourage them to remain committed to the community wherever life may take them. Harambee | 7:15 PM Harambee, meaning “all pull together” in Swahili, is an annual ceremony dedicated to recognizing graduating seniors who identify with communities of the African Diaspora. Established in 2000, this ceremony collectively celebrates the individual achievements of students in obtaining college diplomas and honors the community and legacy Black graduating students and allies have created and actively cultivated here at Georgetown. Despedida | 8:30 PM Despedida is an annual ceremony that celebrates the cultural diversity and history of Latinx community at Georgetown University. This unique celebration serves to recognize and honor your loved one's completion of a rigorous journey through academia and involvement in various organizations at Georgetown University. For many students, the transition from their respective communities to college was not easy, and so today, we celebrate the success of each student in achieving a degree in higher education. Please never forget to congratulate your graduate for they have come far, and hopefully can continue going further. Despedida es un evento anual para celebra las diversas culturas e historias de la comunidad Latinx en la Universidad de Georgetown. Esta evento reconoce y honra la clausura de nuestros seres queridos despues de una rigurosa trayectoria académica y su participación en organizaciones estudiantiles en Georgetown. Para muchos estudiantes, el proceso de transición de nuestras comunidades hacia la Universidad de Georgetown no fue nada fácil, por tal motivo, hoy celebramos los logros y sacrificios de cada estudiante para alcanzar un título de educación superior. No se olviden felicitar a su graduado por alcanzar esta gran meta y esperamos que continúen luchando en alcanzar nuevos propósitos.
4. Asian Heritage Ceremony Welcome Opening Linh Trương CAS’24 Invocation Sanchi Anil Rohira SFS’24 Student Reflections Angela Lâm Nguyễn CAS’24 Introduction to Keynote Speaker Brandon Wu SFS’24 Keynote Speaker Joy Lyu Monahan C’91, MPP’94 Recognition of Graduates Closing Nikash Harapanahalli SFS’24, MASIA’25 | 4
5. | 5 Keynote Speaker Joy Lyu Monahan, C’91, MPP’94 Joy serves as a Senator on the Georgetown University Alumni Association Board, a board member on Hoyas Unlimited, Communications Chair for the Class of 1991, and is an alumni interviewer for the Alumni Admissions Program. Joy also is a supporter of Georgetown Scholars Program (GSP), and she also serves as a Senator on the Georgetown University Alumni Association Board, a board member on Hoyas Unlimited, Communications Chair for the Class of 1991, and is an alumni interviewer for the Alumni Admissions Program. Joy graduated from Georgetown University, from which she earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts and Sciences and then a master’s degree in public policy, and a J.D. from Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center. After clerking for state and federal judges in Louisiana, she worked in private practice in New Orleans, and then after Hurricane Katrina, she moved to Chicago and worked at Kirkland & Ellis and Edwards Wildman (now part of Locke Lord). She then moved in-house, serving as general counsel of World Business Chicago, the public-private economic development arm for the City of Chicago for almost 6 years before joining AbbVie in June 2020 to lead all diversity initiatives for its Legal function.
6. | 6 Class of 2024 Aanya Agarwal Lana Aguon Nooran Ahluwalia Urooj Ahmed Zara Ali Sara Amar Arjun Badami Olivia Baisier Subhiksha Balaji Meghan Bedi Bonnie Beiken Kenneth Boggess Jane Cai Shannon Chan Irene Chang Maya Chatham Alice Chen Yifan Chen Tyler Clough August Collin Aileen Cui Matthew Darmadi Aleena Dawer Krishi Desai Roma Dhingra Tuvshinjargal Dorjnamjim Ethan Fan Manahal Fazal Amira Fisher Mikhaela Frondozo Ashley Fu Ashley Fu Lauren Fu Amana Fujikawa Vyomika Gandhi Stephanie Geng Elizabeth George Maximilian Goetz Sarah Green Aashish Gullanki Malik Gupta Sanchi Gupta Victoria Hannett Eri Hayakawa Alyssa Hirai Andrea Ho Brian Hoang Rachel Huo Ammar Hussain Inara Jalisi Jessica Jiao Dev Jivanji Ethan Johanson Dana Jung Eshan Kalra Ria Kanani Christina Kanemori Joy Kang Nirvana Khan Sarah Khan Dami Kim Emily Kim Erica Kim Joonha Kim Yu Jin Kim Mark Kuo Ariel Le Lincoln Le Sam Lebo Brandon Lee Elizabeth Lee Jonathan Lee Joseph Lee Rachel Li Sam Li Xuan (Lance) Li Annika Lin Liang Lin Lucas Lin Chendi Liu Dalia Liu Marcus Magsayo Riya Maheshwari
7. | 7 Elizabeth Mao Jasmine McCabe Arushi Mehta Kirit Minhas Joshua Moore Isabel Mu Shahmeer Nawaz Angela Nguyen Ashley Nguyen Jean-Paul Nguyen Ma Jhanea (MJ) Ninal Cayden Olsrud Jolie Ouyang Rebecca Pan Ashley Parekh Alisha Patel Anisha Patibandla Angelette Pham Maxwell Preiser Anoushka Ramesh Anela Ramos Grace Rank Pooja Reddy Rachel Rui Nadia Sadanandan Divya Sammeta Leila Sebastian Yukiho Semimoto Janeeta Shaukat Jamie Shin Faye Simanjuntak Kailey Sjauwfoekloy Aditi Sridhar Annika Swanson Serena Ta Allisen Tam Sarah Tanabe Manushi Tanna Shevani Tewari Mehek Thapar Nikita Thummala Lily Tom Diana Tran Linh Truong Rebecca Truong Sarah Tyree Sresth Viswanathan Andrew Wang Claire Wang Si Hang (Ronald) Wang Sofia Wills Samantha Wong Brandon Wu Yanlin Wu Isabella Wylie Olivia Yamamoto Anna Yuan Olivia Yun Azrielia Yung Aminah Yusuf Anna Zaman Hillary Zeng Kevin Zhang Vincent Zhang Brenda Zhong Dennis Zhong Judy Zhou
8. | 8 Harambee Welcome Opening Shakeer Hood CAS’24 Invocation Akil Cole CAS’24 Student Reflections Melody Akuodu Emenyonu SOH’24 Introduction to Keynote Speaker Megan Owusu MSB’24 Keynote Speaker Aya M. Waller-Bey COL’14 Recognition of Graduates Black Alumni Council Nigel S. Scott COL’95 Closing Aniya Danielle Harris CAS’24
9. | 9 Keynote Speaker Aya M. Waller-Bey, COL '14 Aya graduated from Georgetown College in 2014. She majored in Sociology and minored in African American Studies and was a participant and recipient of the Georgetown Scholarship Program and Georgetown Community Scholars Program. Aya also served as two-time Black House Resident among other leadership roles in CMEA and across campus. She also led the nationally trending campaign hashtag #BBGU (Being Black at Georgetown University) in 2013 and gathered widespread media attention. Aya was recognized for her leadership and service as a recipient of the Katherine Kraft Medal, the Black Student Alliance Alumni Award, Terrance Davis Spirit Award, and Lena Landegger Scholarship, among many others. Currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Michigan, Aya's research focuses on trauma narratives in college essays, shedding light on how institutions commodify racialized trauma for gain. Her work, featured in Forbes and The Atlantic, critically examines the intersection of race, education, and trauma. A decorated scholar, Aya has been honored with prestigious fellowships such as the Ford Foundation and Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Hailing from Detroit and proud to be a first- generation college student, Aya is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. With an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Michigan, Aya's journey is marked by her dedication to academic excellence and advocacy for marginalized communities.
10. | 10 Black Alumni Council Nigel S. Scott, C ‘95 Nigel is the managing attorney of a small multi-practice firm located in Philadelphia and Washington, DC, which focuses on civil litigation, commercial law, entity formation, contracts, immigration and nonprofit organizations. Nigel also serves as a special litigation counsel to the Delaware River and Port Authority and general counsel to a number of startup companies and small businesses, advising in areas of governance and corporate compliance. Nigel has long made service a core part of his ethos, as exemplified by his being named in Philadelphia’s pro bono Honor Roll, in recognition of his years of pro bono service to the Philadelphia community. Another point of emphasis for Nigel has been working with young adults, and in particular the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s High School Law Day program in Philadelphia. The PBA recognized Nigel’s long-standing service with its Pro Bono Award for his work as chair of the Law Day program. Nigel has over twenty years of service to Georgetown as an Alumni Admissions Ambassador, and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Alumni Association’s Black Alumni Council’s Board of Advisors. He also serves as a regional chair for the Georgetown Scholars Program, and is actively involved in his local alumni club and his Class Committee. He is a member of the Hoya Hoop Club, and an ardent supporter of the University’s athletic programs.
11. | 11 Class of 2024 George Abalekpor Adora Adeyemi Kodili Agwu Noah Aire Hannah Ajibola Devin Alford Halisi Anderson Armoni Armour KC Ashiogwu Kayla Balabanis Gabrielle Billington Madison Burnett Nicolette Carrion Cameron Clark Sierra Coffey Aidan Davis Autumn Davis Fathia Diriye Christianna Doele Nandi Dube Alexa Dwomoh Jabril El-Amin Melody Emenyonu Cameren Evans Shola Fakoya Kathleen Felli Jessica Fiadomor Amira Fisher Jaida Forbes Terrence Franks Addison Goodman Sokhna Gueye Nakita Guiteau Malik Gupta Jazmyn Harmon Aniya Harris Ollie Henry Sean Hewitt Chloe Holman Shakeer Hood Safia Hussen Inara Jalisi Jordynn Jenkins Bianca Jenkins Mia Johnson Jillian Lauryn Jones Karem Katary Ruth Kayongo Langston Lee Jillian Mars Christine Mauvais Tyller Mensa Fatir Muhammad Ernest Ntangu Rebecca Ochan Yasmin Ott Nadim Oubenali Megan Owusu Joshua Paige Bryanna Penn Christopher Pitt Sandra Polanco Leila Sebastian Jazarah Shim Mekhi Simpson Sarai Simpson Kyriea Smith Leah Smith Sherman Steptoe II Nicolas Stewart Lamoussa Tapsoba Lily Tom Tiffani Torres Aminata Touray Kayla Vaughn Sutton Vaughn Melsenia Vergin Deborah Wey Mike Whittington De’Andre Wilborn David Wossen Isabella Wylie Akua Yeboah Azrielia Yung
12. | 12 Despedida Welcome Opening Eric Perez CAS’24 Invocation Renato Llontop Calosi SFS’24 Student Reflections Sabrina Perez CAS’24 Introduction to Keynote Speaker Thalia Zuniga-Davila CAS’24 Keynote Speaker Mayra Alaniz COL’17 Recognition of Graduates Closing Anndy Serrano- Marcillo CAS’24
13. | 13 Keynote Speaker Mayra Alaniz, COL’17 Mayra was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI. She received her Bachelors in Government from Georgetown University in 2017 as a first generation student, and she received her Master in Business Administration (MBA) from Marquette University in 2023. During her time at Georgetown, she was a student coordinator for the Institute for College Preparation (ICP) supporting first generation DC students who aspire to a post secondary degree. Prior to graduation, she received the prestigious Lena Landegger Service Award. She also participated in the Management Leaders for Tomorrow (MLT) program, where she first gained exposure to the world of business. Mayra maintained close ties to her hometown Milwaukee, where she returned to upon her graduation. After graduating, she decided to take on a position in the Mayor’s Office as a communications coordinator in her home town. She continued her work with the administration as a grants officer distributing federal funding to local nonprofits that support youth programming and employment. Mayra received a full tuition scholarship to pursue her MBA and concentrated her focus on human resources. During her masters program she competed in a business pitch competition and received a first place prize to launch her entrepreneurial venture, Marquette Career Closet. After completing her MBA, she joined international grocer Aldi as a district manager where she helps develop talent in the stores while ensuring food reaches the neighborhoods she once lived in. In her free time, she enjoys her home DIY projects and lounging around with the family dog.
14. | 14 Class of 2024 Claire Alarid Andrew Alcala Verení Aparicio Angel Baeza Chloe Bencomo Litzy Borquez Manuela Castano Amy Cazares Lauren Dennis Christopher Dorado Amanda Estevez Biviana Flores Jasmin Gaitan Andrea Gasca Carolina Gomez Rivas-Vazquez Mariana Guzman Cate Howell Julian Jimenez Renato Llontop Calosi Maria Lopez Cuellar Emerson Madrid Romero Lizbeth Martinez-Ramos Tahis Meza Kevin Moreno Yazmin Munoz Mia Murillo Andrea Nucete Alvarado Cecilia Ochoa Sofia Ortiz-Penzol Darlin Paredes Isabela Paredes Adriel Perez Eric Perez Sabrina Perez Sandra Polanco Maria Posada Velasco Diana Quintanilla Vanessa Ramirez Vilma Rodriguez Tayah Rubio Nicole Sanchez Lara Santana Natalia Seczon Cepeda Anndy Serrano-Marcillo Leonardo Teixeira Loren Vanegas Nia Vasquez Esmeralda Vazquez Daniela Velazquez Thalia Zuniga-Davila
15. The Center for Multicultural Equity & Access (CMEA) enhances the education of students historically denied access to Georgetown University because of race, ethnicity, national origin, socioeconomic status, and other marginalized identities. To live out this mission, CMEA provides a variety of intentional and culturally-relevant programming, services, and opportunities to foster student success inside and outside of the classroom. Multicultural Graduation Ceremonies are a part of the official Georgetown University commencement schedule. In 2013, partnered with the Office of the Provost, the Center for Multicultural Equity & Access (CMEA) began coordinating these celebrations. We are deeply grateful for all those who helped to support the 2024 celebrations, including the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost, the Division of Student Affairs, faculty, staff, and our undergraduate students. | 15 Please scan the QR code for additional resources.
16. GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY In partnership with: Office of the President | Division of Student Affairs Office of Provost | Office of Student Equity & Inclusion *Image adapted from mural painted in La Casa Latina, located 1320 36th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007