Candidates from graduate-level programs in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education, Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and School of Communications celebrated their achievements during a joint Commencement ceremony May 17 in Alumni Gym.
Before they crossed the Commencement stage and received their diplomas on Wednesday, May 17, Participate Learning CEO David Young urged the spring graduates from some of Elon’s masters-level programs to carry their passion for learning with them through whatever comes next in their professional journeys.
Young reminded them that graduation is a fixed point in time, and the world keeps changing every day. But as our society, economy and planet rapidly evolve, Elon graduates share a significant characteristic that will ensure their success far beyond their technical skills.
“You have proven that you have learned how to learn, and you have done this repeatedly, time and time again, for many years,” Young said. “Elon is and has always been committed to lifelong learning and has provided you with everything you need to be a continuous and curious learner for decades to come. Not everybody has this capacity, and it is a clear differentiator as you enter or re-enter the job market.”
The joint ceremony in Alumni Gym recognized graduates from the Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Science in Business Analytics and Master of Business Administration programs in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business; the Master of Arts in Interactive Media program in the School of Communications; and the Master of Arts in Higher Education and Master of Education programs in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education.
Jason Smith G’23 of the MBA program, who was selected to deliver the message of appreciation on behalf of his fellow students, applauded the time, energy and dedication that graduates from all six programs devoted to earning their degrees. Inspired by his pastor, Smith focuses on one word to live by each year, such as grace, patience and gratitude. He framed his address to his fellow graduates around his word for 2023 – silence.
“Today we celebrate loudly and proudly,” Smith said. “This Commencement day is all about talking, speaking and congratulating. But silence is not about quietness. Silence is slowing down. Silence is stillness.”
Smith acknowledged the hard work, sacrifices and compromises that each graduate poured into obtaining their master’s degrees. Moving forward, he encouraged his classmates to honor that effort by embracing the peace that comes with silence.
“Each one of you is a high achiever and high performer, reaching what only 10% of Americans will ever obtain,” Smith said. “How do we blend high performance, success, silence and stillness? My suggestions are to live in the present. Always use paid time off. Always. Talk less. Listen more. Practice gratitude. Check in on your friends. Enjoy work but still leave early. Attend your children’s activities but stay late. Have a date night with your significant other all of the time. Call your parents. Class of 2023, learn to love stillness and silence.”
In his keynote address, Young reflected on his own exposure to Elon’s dynamic learning environment from an early age. His father is former Elon President J. Fred Young, so he grew up surrounded by “the power of community, kindness, engagement and empathy” that Elon offered.
Elon paved the way for his family’s “lifelong pursuit of and commitment to global education and cultural exchange.” Young’s company, Participate Learning, is the leading provider of K-12 global education programs and one of the largest international exchange teacher programs recognized by the U.S. Department of State.
“Elon introduced my siblings and me to worlds that would otherwise have not been possible – visiting professors, guest speakers, exchange students, travel, languages and more,” Young said. “And these experiences taught us to try and stand in someone else’s shoes for a while and understand what their lives are like.”
Young urged the graduates to carry the rich learning experiences they gained at Elon with them to their next adventure. He said that as an employer who has hired thousands of staff in more than 30 years, he would infer that candidates with master’s degrees would possess certain attributes – like technical knowledge, problem solving, initiative, ambition and self-discipline. But he would expect candidates with an Elon master’s degree to go a step further, with additional characteristics like critical thinking, emotional intelligence, valuing differences, intercultural understanding and curiosity.
“These Elon qualities make you so attractive in the marketplace,” Young said. “And, by the way… your degree is going to become more valuable over the years, and I’ll tell you why – because if there’s one thing I know about Elon, it’s that we will never stop growing, never stop improving and never stop pursuing excellence until we’re No. 1 in every possible ranking there is.”
Young said he had no doubt that everyone who crossed the Commencement stage that night possessed those qualities, and he emphasized that lifelong learners often become excellent leaders.
“When I look out at you, that’s what I see – dozens and dozens of future leaders ready to enter the world and make a positive impact,” Young said. “And it brings me joy and hope to see, because we have huge challenges ahead as citizens and humans. We need you now, and we need you fast!”
President Connie Ledoux Book charged the graduates to remain resilient and steadfast in their future endeavors, like the mighty oaks for which Elon is named. Oaks symbolize the Elon community’s strength, she said – strength that also resides within each member of the Class of 2023.
“I hope each time you see an acorn, or an oak tree,” Book said, “that you are reminded of the personal leadership that you have developed during your studies at Elon, strengths and skills that I’m counting on you to use to make a difference in the world.”
Candidates for the Master of Science in Accounting Degree
Kaitlyn Susan Cherniss
Luke Taylor Chisholm
Yuzu Pham Do
Colburn Gray Ehrhart
Andrew Clinton Junkin
Hunter Autumn Leong
Jacob Stone McAllister
Brian Joseph McDonnell
Hari Meher Nori
Conor J. O’Neill
Jane Madelyn Ragland
Madison Schulenburg
Olivia Noreen Taylor
Candidates for the Master of Science in Business Analytics Degree
Gustavo Damian Atencio
Joseph Alan Baughman
Kalli’Ana Alize Claire Botelho
John Otis Bowen III
Kiana Aires Bradford
Michael Clow
Matthias Delbove
Baptiste Di Maiolo
Nicole Rose Dischinger
Abigail Marie Fusca
Franc Gàmiz Quer
Sean Elliot Halloran
Alexander James Kisch
Apolline Lartiguevieille
Nicolas Legeay
Benjamin C. Muse
Jehan Panthaki
Michael P. Purcell
Corbin David Skaff
Chelsea Paige Wallace
Master of Business Administration Degree
Sandra Paola Acosta Pena
Abdulmohsen Alzamil
Faiger Megrea Blackwell
Timothy Q. Boles
Skyler Christian Davis
Mary Marie DeFriest
Timothy Patrick Dengler
Lindsey Miller Furiness
Jacquelyn Renee Gauntlett
Paris Elaun Henderson
Olivia Creech Holbrook
Brian Scott Joyner
Aleah King
Quianna Lewis
Alexa Noelle Lowey
Sierra McKoy
Aaron Nana Kwame Ofori
Babatunde Sunday Opaleye
Quinn Patrick Reilly
Cassidy B. Richardson
Jason Smith
Kathryn Larned Soraghan
Rosemary Sparrow
Faisal Sulman
Kari Austin Taylor
Nathan Wyscarver
Candidates for the Master of Arts in Interactive Media Degree
Olivia Beth Archer
Shaina Danielle Catchings
John Edward Donohue
Abby Yongting Lachance
JaRiah Teree Morris
Sequoia Raven Nichols
Maya Nicole O’Neal
Hana Rose Sedivy
Courtney Lillian Simmons
Michaela Angelle Zeno
Candidates for the Master of Arts in Higher Education Degree
Jordan Ballantyne
Kelsey Frances Baron
Ivy Blue Breivogel
Toni Maria Formato
Mackenzie Grim Hahn
Martha Yulissa Lopez Lavias
Charles D. Presar
Sarah May Richey
Odaly Esmeralda Rivas
Amy Elizabeth Smith
Rebecca Elisabeth Wiles
Candidates for the Master of Education Degree
Michael Buttner
Destiny Carter
Valentina Cubillos
Manfredo De la Cruz Interiano
Yanela Ferrer
Kirsten Garrison
William Giblin
Erika Liseth Hernández
Ana Herrera Castillo
Javiera Leyton Alarcon
Emma Lu
Kimberly Manning
Marcela Marambio
Issac Marsh
Deanna Polito
Tatiana Rudiander Conte
Corey Waters
Hannah Wilpon