Reflection speakers

Meet the Spring 2025 Commencement Reflection Speakers

admin — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 15:12:54 +0000

Meet the Spring 2025 Commencement Reflection Speakers admin Mon, 04/28/2025 - 11:12

Spring Commencement will take place May 1 – 3, and at each of the four ceremonies, a student reflection speaker will address their fellow graduates to share their experience and offer words of encouragement as they celebrate this pivotal milestone.

The speakers are Anamik Jhunjhunwala, a Ph.D. biomedical engineering candidate; Madelyn Novelli, a bachelor’s computer science candidate; Daraja Brown, a bachelor's civil engineering candidate; and Irene Feijoo, a master’s analytics candidate.

Anamik Jhunjhunwala — Ph.D. Ceremony

Anamik Jhunjhunwala had already earned two master's degrees at Georgia Tech — M.S. BME 2023, M.S. Analytics 2024 — along with two bachelor's degrees from the University of California San Diego, but navigating a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering felt like uncharted territory. In his address to his fellow doctoral students, he intends to celebrate their achievements by stressing the resilience, humility, and gratitude it took to reach this point, as well as the ability to leave a "map" for the next generation of Yellow Jackets.

"You once stood upon the shoulders of giants, who carried you to the edges of knowledge. As you stand at the frontier today, through your dedication and determination, each of you has become a giant yourself. Someday soon, new explorers will stand on your shoulders, looking toward new horizons, and you'll guide them into the unknown," he said.

Jhunjhunwala credits mentors, friends, and family for helping him along his journey, and he has tried to assist others throughout his time here. In addition to research and entrepreneurial pursuits, the President's Fellow mentored undergraduate students and served as group leader and an advisory board member for the GT6000 Program.

He will miss the "helluva crowd" of peers at Georgia Tech, and after finishing lab work, Jhunjhunwala will travel to India to visit his family before returning to Atlanta to join the Boston Consulting Group.

Madelyn Novelli — Bachelor’s Morning Ceremony

Madelyn Novelli thought she knew what she needed to do when she got to Georgia Tech — study hard to maintain a good GPA, complete internships, and follow an established path to success. But as she finishes her computer science degree, she wants to share the concept of “identity capital” from The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter — And How to Make the Most of Them Now as she and her fellow graduates enter the next phase of their lives.

"Looking back, I realize that my resume isn't all that different from many of my peers. It made me reflect on whether I was building a life that's uniquely mine, or just checking boxes,” she said. “The most valuable capital we can invest in ourselves isn't just what looks good on paper — it's the time and energy we put into developing ourselves, whether that's through education, work, personal projects, or pursuing other passions. We have so much time in our lives to define ourselves and build our stories, and we don't have to follow a formula to do it."

The Institute became a "land of opportunity" for Novelli, and she spent her extracurricular time finding ways to help others in the Georgia Tech community as an active member of the Student Government Association, the NASPA Culture of Respect Collective, and working as a student assistant at Georgia Tech Professional Education.

After taking the summer to unwind with her friends and family, Novelli will begin her career as a data analyst in Birmingham, Alabama.

Daraja Brown — Bachelor’s Afternoon Ceremony

Yellow jackets are social insects that thrive in a hive surrounded by their fellow worker bees. From snowball fights in front of Tech Tower to the long nights studying in the libraries, Daraja Brown saw parallels between the Institute mascot and the Georgia Tech student body. While every student's next step is different, Brown implores her peers to keep their yellow jacket — and Yellow Jacket — spirit with them wherever they go.

"What ties everyone here together is not just wearing the same gown, but that we all are passionate about something, and we dedicate ourselves to living out those passions," she said. "I urge you to use what you've gained as a student here and apply it for the benefit of those around you. In five, 10, or 50 years, I hope you continue to reflect on what it truly means to be a Yellow Jacket."

A Stamps President’s Scholar, Brown served as a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and captain of the Timber-Strong Design Build team. Through Engineers Without Borders, she participated in international aid projects and was a sub-team lead on the Building for Equity and Sustainability Vertically Integrated Project.

Fully recovered from a childhood fear of the insect after being stung, Brown will remain a Yellow Jacket to pursue a master's degree in civil engineering after spending the summer interning with an Atlanta engineering firm.

Irene Feijoo Cedillo — Master’s Ceremony

Commencement represents the final step of many graduates’ Georgia Tech journey, including Irene Feijoo. While she has always heard that the first step is the most important, Feijoo wants to challenge her classmates to look forward to the next step and keep the same approach they’ve taken to complete their degree programs.

“The habits we have built during these years — showing up, asking questions, solving problems — are what really matter going forward,” she said. “I hope we stay open to change, keep supporting the people around us, and continue learning. Hopefully, moving forward, it will be in ways that don’t necessarily come with exams or deadlines. And as we move on, I hope we also take a second to appreciate how far we have come and the values and people that helped us get here.”

After earning her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Feijoo returned to pursue a master’s degree in analytics. Along with tailgates and trivia nights, she was active in several student organizations on campus, including as president of Suit Up Professional Preparation.

After five years as a student here, Feijoo will take a break to “travel and recharge.” Eager to explore other cultures, she intends to visit Vietnam, Japan, and the Philippines before beginning her career in consulting services, applying her background in technology and supply chain management.

Subtitle

The four student speakers will offer words of wisdom to their peers across four Commencement ceremonies.

Summary sentence

The four student speakers will offer words of wisdom to their peers across four Commencement ceremonies.

Summary

The four student speakers will offer words of wisdom to their peers across four Commencement ceremonies.

Dateline

Mon, 04/28/2025 - 12:00

Steven.gagliano@gatech.edu

Contact

Steven Gagliano – Institute Communications

Keywords

Reflection speakers

News room topics

Campus and Community

Meet the Fall Commencement Reflection Speakers

admin — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 17:42:41 +0000

Meet the Fall Commencement Reflection Speakers admin Tue, 12/10/2024 - 12:42

As 1,819 summer and 4,586 fall graduates celebrate Commencement across three ceremonies, three reflection speakers will address the crowds to offer their perspectives on their Georgia Tech journeys and offer parting words of advice to their classmates.

The speakers are Bilal Mufti, a Ph.D. aerospace engineering candidate; Rishi Bengani, a bachelor’s computer science candidate; and Atul Verman, a master's computer science candidate.

Bilal Mufti – Ph.D.

As an undergraduate student in Pakistan, Bilai Mufti saw a photo of Tech Tower and thought to himself, "Maybe someday I'll be at Georgia Tech." As he graduates with a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering, a master's in aerospace engineering, and a master's in computational science and engineering, Mufti wants to share the power of “maybe” with his classmates.

"It's a simple word, yet it holds the power to ignite dreams and inspire courage. Through my speech, I hope to share a message about embracing the uncertainty of life — a feeling I'm sure many of us have become well-acquainted with during this Ph.D. journey. I'll recount how my own journey started with a wishful ‘maybe’ and how it has transformed into a profound lesson about perseverance, community, and self-discovery,” he said.

While at the Institute, the Fullbright Fellow challenged himself to keep exploring. Though he fell short of his goal of visiting every state, Mufti traveled to 42 of them while pursuing his degrees, getting involved with the Fulbright Student Association and the Pakistani Students Association, and earning a Management of Technology Graduate Certificate from the Scheller College of Business.

After Commencement, Mufti will take a break from crossing states off his list and relax in Florida before returning to Pakistan as an assistant professor to foster innovative research in aerospace engineering in his home country.

Rishi Bengani – Bachelor's

After Commencement, Rishi Bengani knows that many of his classmates will go their separate ways, but he intends to leave them with the message of a shared bond that will last a lifetime as Yellow Jackets. He adds that it's important to celebrate the successes and obstacles overcome on the way to turning their tassels.

“Enjoy the journey as much as the destination. Life isn't just about crossing the finish line. It's about tripping a little, laughing at yourself, and making sure you've got some great stories to tell along the way," he said.

Bengani will graduate with a computer science degree with plans to pursue his passions as an entrepreneur. He credits the Institute for allowing him to hone his skills through experiences with Startup Exchange GT, AI ATL, and CREATE-X.

Along with his academic pursuits and joining the Student Alumni Association, Bengani says that cultural involvement was a core element of his Georgia Tech experience, joining the Ramblin’ Raas — a student organization celebrating the Gujarati folk dance.

After Commencement, Bengani will spend time traveling and mentoring his high school's robotics team before moving to New York to join Deloitte as an AI and data consultant engineer.

Atul Verma – Master's

Unlike many of his fellow graduates, Atul Verma has over 20 years of experience in his field. From the podium, he will share the philosophy that has guided him along his professional and academic paths. Asked why he chose to climb Mount Everest, English mountaineer George Mallory once said, "Because it's there." Verma says, “That drive to take on new challenges" is something to be admired and replicated, no matter what stage of life you're in.

"At 52 years old, I've been climbing all my life. But it doesn't matter when you start climbing. What matters is that you do. This degree, this moment, is proof that we're still climbing, still striving, still growing," Verma said.

While Commencement can feel like the conclusion of a journey, Verma will challenge his classmates to continue to climb.

"The diploma you hold is not the end; it's the beginning of your next climb. It's proof you've already conquered one mountain, and you're ready for the next."

Subtitle

These three students will share their experiences with the crowds at Commencement.

Summary sentence

These three students will share their experiences with the crowds at Commencement.

Summary

These three students will share their experiences with the crowds at Commencement.

Dateline

Tue, 12/10/2024 - 12:00

Steven.gagliano@gatech.edu

Contact

Steven Gagliano - Institute Communications

Keywords

Reflection speakers

News room topics

Campus and Community

Mercury ID

678795

Source updated

Tue, 12/10/2024 - 12:41

Meet the Spring Commencement Reflection Speakers

admin — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 16:18:41 +0000

Meet the Spring Commencement Reflection Speakers admin Tue, 04/30/2024 - 12:18

With family, friends, faculty, and classmates looking on, five graduates will address the crowd inside McCamish Pavilion as this year’s Spring Commencement reflection speakers.

The speakers will be Nikhil Iyengar, a Ph.D. aerospace engineering candidate; Stefanny Arcos, an undergraduate economics candidate; Rishit Desai, an undergraduate computer science candidate; Ritvik Ramakrishnan, a master’s computer science candidate; and Kathleen Devlin, an undergraduate industrial engineering candidate.

Ph.D. Ceremony: Nikhil Iyengar

Nikhil Iyengar recalls that he "felt a buzz" inside of McCamish Pavilion when he attended his first Georgia Tech basketball game at the beginning of his Ph.D. program. During Commencement, he'll deliver a message to his classmates in the same arena.

"So much of our academic journey has been forward-looking. We look forward to finishing our classes. We look forward to completing our qualifying exams. We look forward to proposing and (finally!) defending our theses. It's a wonderful feeling to realize that the moment we have awaited has arrived. I hope every graduate takes a short stroll around campus to celebrate and cherish this milestone," he said.

Iyengar immersed himself at Tech by competing in the Three Minute Thesis competition, joining clubs, and participating in campus events. These experiences gave him a sense of community, which he leaned on through the challenging moments and shared the successes with along the way.

Originally from Mumbai, India, Iyengar grew up in Valley Stream, New York, and will join Sandia National Labs in San Francisco to develop climate change models and forecast the impact of environmental policies on climate. As a passion project, he plans to pursue a pilot's license, saying, "If I know why a plane flies, I should also learn how to fly it."

Friday Morning: Stefanny Arcos

One grade in one class doesn't define an academic career. After a disappointing grade on her first differential calculus exam, Stefanny Arcos wondered if she was cut out for Georgia Tech, but help from her advisors and friends gave her a new mindset that powered her through to Commencement — and it's one she intends to share.

"I think imposter syndrome is real, and I want to help remind my fellow graduates that they are enough. It's so important to focus on celebrating our small daily victories just as much as the big ones," she said.

This opportunity gives Arcos a chance to thank those who helped her throughout her journey, and that support is what she'll miss the most. "I have met incredible friends and mentors, and I will always be thankful for my time here. Even at my lowest lows, I was always surrounded by people who comforted and cared for me.”

The Douglasville, Georgia, native will graduate with a degree in economics, and before starting law school, she will take some time off to visit family in Ambato, Ecuador.

Friday Afternoon: Rishit Desai

Rishit Desai dreamed of becoming a Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket since he was a child, and from the moment he arrived, he was determined to make the most of his time on campus. Participating in numerous clubs and student organizations, Desai was searching for his “why,” and he hopes to inspire his fellow graduates to find theirs.

"We all have our own journeys toward reaching our goals. Find what makes your journey unique to you. Be open to exploring new aspects and opportunities. Discover your passions and strive to make the biggest impact you can make with them. This is something we can carry with us wherever this next chapter takes us," he said.

Like many in the Class of 2024, the computer science graduate began his degree program at the onset of the pandemic. He believes it instilled a "historic resilience" into the student body that will shape their work ethic for years to come.

Desai, who hails from Columbus, Ohio, will miss the student section of Bobby Dodd Stadium, but when he joins Manhattan Associates' Atlanta office as a software analyst, he'll be close by to attend future home games.

Saturday Morning: Ritvik Ramakrishnan

A speech impediment kept Ritvik Ramakrishnan from finding his voice until middle school. The ability to overcome obstacles is a lesson the Stamps President's Scholar will share from the podium.

"My message to my fellow graduates is to embrace their strengths, persevere through challenges, and use their voices to make a difference,” he said. “I want to encourage them to view setbacks as opportunities for growth, trust the process, and never underestimate their potential as Georgia Tech graduates. Just as I found my voice and learned to embrace my strengths, I know each of them will find their path to success, paved with the white and gold of Georgia Tech."

Ramakrishnan is looking forward to seeing his classmates' faces as he delivers his speech after his high school graduation speech was delivered virtually. A member of Startup Exchange, a CREATE-X Scholar, and a master's candidate in computer science, Ramakrishnan believes the collaborative energy across the Institute is unmatched, especially in its entrepreneurial endeavors.

Before joining McKinsey & Company as a business analyst, the Frisco, Texas, native will participate in a six-week spiritual retreat.

Saturday Afternoon: Kathleen Devlin

Before college, Kathleen Devlin lived in Mexico, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and New Jersey, but she found a sense of belonging at Georgia Tech. Like many of her peers, the industrial engineering major likes to find solutions with data, but between the number of all-nighters, football games attended, or time spent at the CRC, she knows not everything fits into an equation.

"I want to share with my fellow graduates that our college experience cannot be defined. It cannot be simply quantified or boiled down to just one particular moment. It is, rather, all-encompassing," she said.

Analyzing the numbers of Commencement, Devlin has calculated that it takes an average of 32 seconds to cross the stage, shake President Cabrera's hand, and exit, so she encourages all graduates to enjoy every moment of that experience.

After Commencement, she will head to her "happy place" at the beach and take a European vacation before moving to New York City in August to start as a sales and trading analyst at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

Subtitle

Five speakers will address their fellow graduates as they complete their Georgia Tech journeys.

Summary sentence

Five speakers will address their fellow graduates as they complete their Georgia Tech journeys.

Summary

Five speakers will address their fellow graduates as they complete their Georgia Tech journeys.

Dateline

Tue, 04/30/2024 - 12:00

Steven.gagliano@gatech.edu

Contact

Steven Gagliano - Institute Communications

Keywords

Reflection speakers

Spring Commencement

News room topics

Campus and Community

Reflection Speakers to Share Lessons Learned

bwaye3 — Tue, 03 May 2022 21:08:03 +0000

Reflection Speakers to Share Lessons Learned bwaye3 Tue, 05/03/2022 - 17:08

Commencement is one of the happiest days of the year for Georgia Tech graduates. For the four students selected as reflection speakers, it presents an opportunity to address their fellow graduates, professors, and family members.

At each of Georgia Tech’s Spring Commencement ceremonies (master’s, Ph.D., and two bachelor’s), a graduating student is given three minutes to deliver an inspiring message. The bachelor’s speakers are Daivi Patel, a computer science major, and Enyinda Boms, a chemical and biomolecular engineering major. The master’s speaker is Nicholas Ohl, who is earning a degree in computer science. And the Ph.D. speaker is Ruxandra Duca in aerospace engineering.

Students must apply to become a reflection speaker. A panel of faculty, staff, and students selects a group of finalists who present a full version of their speech to the committee. The reflection speakers are required to work with Tech’s Communication Center in preparation for the ceremony.

Daivi Patel

Daivi Patel applied to be a reflection speaker because she thought it would be a unique opportunity to express herself and share her Georgia Tech experience.

“The bigger aspect was that I thought it would make my parents proud,” she said. “It did end up annoying my younger sister because she doesn’t want to watch me speak. It’s a sibling rivalry thing, but she is actually excited.”

Patel will speak about how resilient the class has been during the pandemic.

“I asked my peers and professors to describe us, and a lot of them mentioned how we’ve persevered through these difficult times. When I reflected on my own experience, I felt so proud of how I got through college during such a huge change in everyone’s lives,” she said. “We all did that.”

Patel will work as a software engineer at Microsoft in Seattle beginning in August. Her parents and her sister, Aishvi, are coming from Denver for Commencement. Two of her friend groups, Beyblades and Hibmos, also will be there.

“I would like to thank the members of Alpha Kappa Psi, the business fraternity, who taught me to speak well enough to be given this honor, and the members of Ramblin’ Raas, a competitive team for dance and Indian culture, who gave me the confidence and courage to do this.”

Enyinda Boms

Since attending New Student Convocation, Enyinda Boms has known he wanted to be the reflection speaker at Commencement. He dreamed of sharing the memories gained and inspiring his fellow graduates as they transition into the next phase of life.

“Being a speaker will be one of the few ways I can pour back into the Institute, hoping to have the same effect Georgia Tech has had on me,” he said. The theme of his speech is how resiliency can be an important factor in life beyond college.

“I believe resiliency is one of the key traits we should possess as we progress through life,” he said. “From relationships, to work, to passion projects, resiliency can wear many hats, but it does not change the impact it can have in one’s life.”

Boms was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria and grew up in Nolensville, Tennessee. He will work with Capital One beginning this fall, and he plans to go back for a master’s in computer science or MBA.

He will celebrate Commencement with his family, close friends, and supporters. “Without them, I would not be who I am today,” he said. “I want to thank every single person who has been here along the journey with me. It has not been easy, and it does not stop here.”

Nicholas Ohl

Nicholas Ohl enjoys public speaking. So, he thought being a speaker at Commencement was a good way to reflect on his two years as a student in the Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS) program and cap off the program in a meaningful way.

“I think that being selected as the graduation speaker substantiates the value of the online program, and I hope to represent my fellow master’s graduates and OMSCS community well,” he said.

“As an online student, my master’s program was inherently different from the traditional picture we have of higher education. I approached writing my speech from this lens, wanting to acknowledge that each graduate had their own unique master’s experience while emphasizing the commonalities that we share,” Ohl said.

The main theme of his speech is leveraging the knowledge gained in graduate school to make a difference in our communities, and to pursue lifelong learning beyond formal education.

“I am incredibly thankful to have had the opportunity to earn a master’s degree from Georgia Tech. I do not think that I would have pursued one without a non-traditional option like the OMSCS program, and am proud to be a new alumnus of Tech.”

His parents, sister, and partner will celebrate Commencement with him. “My family does not know that I am speaking yet, so that will be a nice surprise for them once they arrive in Atlanta,” he said.

Ruxandra Duca

For Ruxandra Duca, the Ph.D. experience has been different from any other student experience she has had. She has thought about it a lot over the last couple of years, trying to get to the root of her emotions.

“My friends seemed inspired by ideas I shared in random conversations, and we had a few ‘aha’ moments. I thought it would be cool to share them further,” Duca said, and she wrote and submitted a speech to be the student speaker.

“The first part of my speech is a reflection on the Ph.D. journey, while the second focuses on the future and on the duality of wanting to achieve grand things while understanding the importance of stillness and everyday joy,” she said.

Duca will be a systems engineer at Wisk Aero, a company working on autonomous, electrical air taxis aiming to reduce urban congestion and emissions.

Her parents will travel from Romania for Commencement, joining her partner and friends for the celebration.

Summary sentence

The students selected as reflection speakers have the honor of talking about their Georgia Tech experience.

Summary

The students selected as reflection speakers have the honor of talking about their Georgia Tech experience.

Dateline

Mon, 05/02/2022 - 12:00

victor.rogers@comm.gatech.edu

Contact

Victor Rogers

Institute Communications

Location

Atlanta, GA

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Meet the Spring 2025 Commencement Reflection Speakers

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Meet the Fall Commencement Reflection Speakers

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Meet the Spring Commencement Reflection Speakers

Ph.D. Ceremony: Nikhil Iyengar

Friday Morning: Stefanny Arcos

Friday Afternoon: Rishit Desai

Saturday Morning: Ritvik Ramakrishnan

Saturday Afternoon: Kathleen Devlin

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Reflection Speakers to Share Lessons Learned

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