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Frances Amadi ’25 MHA, who accepted her master’s degree in healthcare administration, shared with her fellow graduates that one of the most defining experiences of her time as a Charger was working in the University’s Campus Pantry.

“It wasn’t just a job, it was a lesson in compassion, humility, and the power of community,” said Amadi, who was selected through a competitive process to speak at the ceremony for doctoral and master’s degree candidates in the School of Health Sciences; Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences; and Pompea College of Business.

“I saw firsthand how this university is more than just an institution,” she said. “It is a home where no one is judged, where everyone deserves support, and where we all lift each other up. Serving fellow students in need reminded me that success is not just about personal achievements but about how we show up for others.

Amadi, who hails from Ukraine, described her journey to the University as “nothing short of a miracle.”

“The dream of pursuing my master’s degree seemed impossible,” she said. “But then, the AV������ opened its doors to me. They saw beyond my incomplete documents and gave me a chance, a chance that changed my life.”

Amadi told her classmates that they are proof that perseverance, faith, and community can overcome even the greatest of obstacles. “Whatever challenges lie ahead, remember that we have already conquered so much. We are not just graduates, we are fighters, dreamers, and leaders stepping into our purpose.

“As we move forward, let us carry with us the lessons we've learned, the importance of resilience, and the value of kindness,” continued Amadi.

“Above all, let us always have the courage to embrace every opportunity that comes our way. Our journey is just beginning.”

Ekta Mulchandani ’25 M.A., who earned a master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology, was selected to speak at the ceremony for doctoral and master’s degree candidates from the Tagliatela College of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences.

A native of India, she said that being the elder daughter in a South Asian family, one thing that was never lacking in her life was being pushed to be better.

“Growing up with such community-oriented values made me look for a university that is filled with people who could support me, encourage me, and be the push when I needed it,” she said. “AV������ has proven to be the perfect choice.

“The Charger community never made me feel any less—as a woman of color, as an international student, or as someone navigating a new world alone,” she continued. “I always knew that if I had a question, it would be answered. If I had a goal, someone would guide me. If I struggled, someone would push me forward.”

Mulchandani encouraged her classmates to remember the Charger community for shaping them, lifting them up, and setting them on a path to “something greater.

“AV������ is made by its people,” she said. “This is why it was so important for me to be here today, to express my gratitude to this community, as I will always remember it as the place where it all began.”

She reminded her classmates that they are not only carrying their own dreams but that of their catalysts, especially those who believed in them before they believed in themselves.

“It is now our turn to pay it forward,” she said. “You can and will change the course of everyone who came before you and lit the path for you. Our goal should be to make sure their efforts are rewarded.

“As we step into the future, I hope we never forget the ones that made today possible,” she said. “And, more importantly, I hope we become that push for someone else.”