¡Celebremos!: Graduates Take Flight is a celebration preceding commencement at Elon that honors the achievements of Latinx/Hispanic graduates and the contributions their families and friends have made throughout their educational journey.
As they prepare to graduate, 10 Latinx/Hispanic students were recognized for their achievements with family, friends and loved ones during the first ¡Celebremos!: Graduates Take Flight for Elon Law and School of Health Sciences students.
¡Celebremos!: Graduates Take Flight recognizes not only the academic success of graduates but also the contributions of family and friends whose support made possible their achievements. This diverse and intimate bilingual ceremony is a celebration that builds community and a sense of family for Elon students.
“Today is a celebration. So it’s OK to clap, it’s OK to cheer, it’s OK to dance if you want to and to be loud,” said Sylvia Muñoz, assistant dean of students and director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education. Those in attendance during the ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 7, took that statement to heart. The room filled with applause, cheers, laughter and even a few tears as the messages of gratitude students wrote to their family members were read aloud.
“No amount of ‘thank yous’ will ever be enough to suffice for the love and sacrifice you made to help get me here to this moment. I will start with, thank you for allowing me to chase this dream and doing everything in your power to allow me to do so,” wrote Francine Nebel L’23 to her family. “This is as much an accomplishment to you as it is for me. I am so excited to see what this next chapter holds in store. I am so grateful that no matter what comes, I know I always have you by my side. Your handprints are on my soul. Te amaré por siempre! (I will love you forever!)”
After each student’s remarks were read, they received a special stole designed by Nico Gaspar ’22 which features a monarch butterfly — a symbol of the journey of Elon’s Latinx/Hispanic students.
Michelle Aguilar L’23 delivered the student keynote for the ceremony and used a quote from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who describes herself as “incessantly optimistic,” a characteristic that helps her meet every challenge. Aguilar urged the other graduates to think about Sotomayor’s hopefulness once they are out and making their way in their respective fields.
“Justice Sotomayor reminds us to remember to be grateful and life is not a spectator sport. To squeeze from life its fullness, to be happy in this world in the short period of time you’re given to find meaningful, you have to be active and giving members of our communities,” Aguilar said.
Coral Zayas ’09, president of the Elon Latinx/Hispanic Alumni Network (ELHAN), welcomed the graduates to the network of more than 1,000 alumni throughout the country and the world.
“I’m so excited for you as we welcome you to the alumni family,” Zayas said. “Whether your next step is graduate school, medical school, moving to a new city or still figuring out what’s in store … we’re excited to support you in your journey.”
Students honored at ¡Celebremos!: Graduates Take Flight were:
- Michelle Aguilar L’23
- Anthony Bland L’23
- Natasha Castellano L’23
- Carolina Chong Liao G’23
- Ashley Cynthia Espinoza G’23
- Alexandra Evans G’23
- Francine Nebel L’23
- Edward Ortega L’23
- Katelyn Perez ’23
- Gordon Cathcart L’23