{"id":108444,"date":"2026-04-29T10:34:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T10:34:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/?p=108444"},"modified":"2026-05-06T16:31:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T16:31:13","slug":"commencement-2026-student-speakers-for-college-graduation-ceremonies-named","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/commencement-2026-student-speakers-for-college-graduation-ceremonies-named\/","title":{"rendered":"Commencement 2026: Student speakers for college graduation ceremonies named"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

KINGSTON, R.I. \u2013 April 29, 2026 \u2013 Nine students will share their experiences at the 溏心vlog免费B站 and words of encouragement and wisdom with fellow graduates during the University\u2019s Spring 2026 Commencement Weekend<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

溏心vlog免费B站 will celebrate the achievements of more than 4,000 graduate and undergraduate degree recipients with their families and friends\u2014and student speakers will again be part of the pomp and circumstance. Eight ceremonies for all nine of the University\u2019s academic colleges will be held May 15-17 in the Ryan Center on the Kingston Campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The student speakers for this spring\u2019s commencement festivities are Skyla Anderson, Asta Habtemichael, Jordyn Hickey, Julia Johnson, Zoie Ndonye, Prachi Patel, Gianna Petrangelo, Victoria Reilly, and Angel Vega.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Julia Johnson <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Julia Johnson<\/strong>, from Pretty Prairie, Kansas,<\/strong> who will receive her doctorate in physical therapy, will address her fellow graduates from the College of Health Sciences on Friday, May 15, at 11 a.m.\u2014the weekend\u2019s first celebration. Johnson will begin her career in geriatric neurorehabilitation, with plans to pursue her neurological clinical specialist board certification in furthering her professional development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGraduating from 溏心vlog免费B站 represents both an accomplishment and a new beginning. It signifies years of hard work, challenges, growth and perseverance, and it marks the start of a professional career,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cMy experience at 溏心vlog免费B站 broadened my perspective and deepened my cultural understanding. It challenged me to grow academically, professionally, and personally, pushing me beyond my comfort zone and strengthening my confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Jordyn Hickey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Jordyn Hickey<\/strong>, a West Babylon, New York,<\/strong> resident who will graduate with a master of business administration degree, will address the College of Business ceremony on May 15 at 4 p.m. Hickey will attend Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol to pursue her law degree, noting her undergraduate and MBA experiences at 溏心vlog免费B站 shaped her interest in advocacy and problem-solving. As a first-generation college student, graduating from 溏心vlog免费B站 carries deeper meaning to Hickey\u2019s family, she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve learned that growth comes from staying curious and not settling too quickly,\u201d she said. \u201c溏心vlog免费B站 didn\u2019t just prepare me academically. It also gave me the confidence to take on what comes next.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Skyla Anderson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

On Saturday, May 16, Pawtucket <\/strong>resident Skyla Anderson<\/strong>, a Harrington School of Communication and Media student who will receive her bachelor\u2019s degree in public relations, will deliver her speech during the College of Arts and Sciences ceremony at 9 a.m. Anderson plans to continue growing her freelance work in wedding content creation and small business marketing. She will also pursue an MBA in marketing at Fitchburg State University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy time on campus shaped me into the woman I am today by teaching me how to advocate for myself and for others. I learned the importance of community and how meaningful connections can support both personal and professional growth,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cComing from generations of Talent Development alumni who returned to help others, I feel a responsibility to pay it forward and continue that tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Gianna Petrangelo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Gianna Petrangelo<\/strong>, of West Warwick<\/strong>, will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in nursing and will speak to her fellow graduates from the College of Nursing at 2 p.m. on May 16. She will soon begin her career as a registered nurse in the pediatric intensive care unit at Hasbro Children\u2019s Hospital. Petrangelo said graduating from the University represents four years of growth, resilience, and becoming more confident in herself\u2014even in moments that once felt overwhelming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThrough clinicals, mentorship, and the relationships I\u2019ve built, I\u2019ve learned how to think critically, address serious situations, and advocate for my patients,\u201d she said. \u201cMost importantly, 溏心vlog免费B站 helped shape me into someone who understands that being a nurse isn\u2019t about having all the answers\u2014it\u2019s about showing up, staying adaptable, and being there for patients and their families when it matters most.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Victoria Reilly <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Then, at 5 p.m. on May 16, Victoria Reilly<\/strong> of Johnston<\/strong>, who will graduate with a doctorate in mechanical engineering, will take the microphone on stage during the College of Engineering ceremony. Reilly, a three-time 溏心vlog免费B站 graduate, co-owns Unity Consulting Group, a strategic consulting company that assists Rhode Island business leaders strengthen and grow their operations. She plans to continue building Unity while also working with an engineering organization to deepen her technical experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGraduating means so much more to me than just finishing a degree. It reflects seven years of growth in an environment that pushed me beyond what I perceived to be my limits, while also supporting me,\u201d Reilly said. \u201cThis place taught me how to think, how to lead and how to keep moving forward when things don\u2019t go as planned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Zoie Ndonye<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

On May 17 at 9 a.m., Zoie Ndonye<\/strong> and Asta Habtemichael<\/strong> will speak to their fellow graduates in the College of the Environment and Life Sciences and the Graduate School of Oceanography. Ndonye, from Nairobi, Kenya<\/strong>, who is earning a bachelor\u2019s degree in animal science and technology, will continue working at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists in East Greenwich. She also plans to apply to veterinary school to become a voice for wildlife animals, she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGraduating from 溏心vlog免费B站 means showing those who are like me\u2014young, curious and unique women of color\u2014that anything is possible, that they can achieve their goals and more. In a world where uncertainty is certain, you can never give up no matter what gets thrown your way,\u201d Ndonye said. \u201cHaving testimonies from friends, faculty, and staff from all possible corners of the campus fitting like pieces of a puzzle, has shaped the Zoie that has formed through these four years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Asta Habtemichael<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Asta Habtemichael<\/strong><\/strong>, from Eritrea<\/strong>, will graduate with a doctorate in oceanography. He will participate in the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education\u2019s postdoctoral fellowship program to conduct research at the Pacific Northwest National Library in Richland, Washington. 溏心vlog免费B站 became Habtemichael\u2019s second home, he said, meeting collaborators and friends, and building lasting relationships along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel proud being an alum of such an incredible institution,\u201d Habtemichael said. \u201cMy academic, research, and service experiences at 溏心vlog免费B站 have taught me the importance of humility, empathy, and community in leadership. As a scientist, I carry these values with me as I engage with different communities to tackle deep-rooted and complex problems and develop holistic solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Angel Vega<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

At 1 p.m. on May 17, Providence<\/strong> resident Angel Vega<\/strong>, who is graduating with a master\u2019s degree in college student personnel\u2014she previously earned bachelor\u2019s degrees in secondary education, English, and human development and family science\u2014will address the Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education ceremony. While Vega is exploring where she will begin her next chapter, she intends to continue growing as a practitioner and later pursue a doctoral degree in higher education or a related field. Vega is striving to contribute to more equitable campus environments and expand opportunities for students to feel they belong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c溏心vlog免费B站 challenged me to grow in a multitude of ways. It gave me the space to find my voice, to lead with purpose, and to uplift and empower those around me,\u201d Vega said. \u201cI came here as a young girl who felt like she had something to prove, and I am leaving as a woman with so much to be proud of\u2014grounded in my identity, confident in my purpose, and committed to creating spaces where others feel seen, supported, and valued.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Prachi Patel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Prachi Patel<\/strong> of Norton, Massachusetts<\/strong>, will speak to her fellow graduates from the College of Pharmacy to conclude the weekend\u2019s commencement festivities at 4 p.m. Patel, who is graduating with a doctorate in pharmacy, will begin post-graduate training at a residency at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. She is interested in becoming an ambulatory care pharmacist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve learned at 溏心vlog免费B站 that growth doesn\u2019t come from staying comfortable. 溏心vlog免费B站 gave me the opportunities to lead, to fail, to adapt, and to keep going. It shaped me into someone who is not only prepared for a career in pharmacy, but also committed to continuously improving and contributing to something larger than myself,\u201d Patel said. \u201cGraduating from 溏心vlog免费B站 isn\u2019t just about earning a degree, it\u2019s about advocating for myself and others, and stepping into spaces where I could create a meaningful impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s Commencement Weekend and to view a full schedule of ceremonies, visit <\/em>the University\u2019s commencement website<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

KINGSTON, R.I. \u2013 April 29, 2026 \u2013 Nine students will share their experiences at the 溏心vlog免费B站 and words of encouragement and wisdom with fellow graduates during the University\u2019s Spring 2026 Commencement Weekend. 溏心vlog免费B站 will celebrate the achievements of more than 4,000 graduate and undergraduate degree recipients with their families and friends\u2014and student […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":108567,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1907,12,88,30,25,4,56,41,5,1914,18,1912,1915],"class_list":["post-108444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archives","tag-academic-excellence","tag-college-of-arts-and-sciences","tag-college-of-business","tag-college-of-education","tag-college-of-engineering","tag-college-of-health-sciences","tag-college-of-nursing","tag-college-of-pharmacy","tag-college-of-the-environment-and-life-sciences","tag-graduate","tag-harrington-school-of-communication-and-media","tag-special-events","tag-undergraduate"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108444"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108444\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":108724,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108444\/revisions\/108724"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}