Tanyi Muanya will Congratulate the Resilience of the Class of 2024 as Senior Speaker at Celebration of Excellence

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“Speaker of Excellence”

These words, spoken by Tanyi Muanya, the Commonwealth Honors College (CHC) Class of 2024 student speaker, encapsulate the spirit of a graduating class that has faced global upheaval over and over again during their high school and college years. Many members of the Class of 2024 missed out on traditional high school milestones. 

"COVID started like two months before my [high school] graduation. It was very frustrating,"  Muanya recalls. 

This year’s seniors at the University of Massachusetts even had an unconventional start to their college journey, with their first semesters taking place online and later wearing masks. However, four years later, this group of students has overcome adversity and grown in the process. Muanya is elated to address his fellow graduates and celebrate their remarkable achievements in his speech.

Born in Buea, Cameroon, and settling in Milford, Massachusetts, at age 11, Muanya’s path to the Celebration of Excellence podium at UMass is a testament to adaptability and perseverance. While he initially planned to pursue the pre-med track, and even worked as a CNA during the pandemic, Muanya later discovered his true calling in political science and journalism. Read on to find out how, inspired by his peers’ resilience, Muanya bravely pursued this new path.

Q: What does being selected as the Celebration of Excellence student speaker mean to you?

A: It's very eye-opening when you see that you are acknowledged for the things you bring into the space you take up. Although I don't look for a lot of celebration in the stuff I do, I appreciate being recognized for the work I've done throughout my years here at UMass.

Tanyi's work has indeed been remarkable. From his early days in the Emerging Scholars program, designed to empower underrepresented students with Honors College potential, to his outstanding performance within the program and his progression to now becoming one of its primary student representatives, his impact has been profound. Transitioning seamlessly into the role of a resident assistant, he has fostered a nurturing environment, leaving an undeniable mark on the CHC community.

Q: How has the Honors College influenced your personal and academic growth?

A: The community here, both socially and academically, gives you the support where you never feel like you can't reach out for help. The small class sizes, the relationships with professors — it all creates a system where students can feel like they can succeed.

But perhaps the most transformative aspect of Muanya’s CHC experience has been the freedom to chart his own academic course.

"The Honors College has taught me that you have control over your own journey," he reflects. 

"The thesis structure is so broad — my thesis had little to do with my majors. Knowing the control you have, I'm planning to just keep going on that moving forward," Muanya adds.

Tanyi aspires to instill this sense of agency and self-determination in his fellow graduates as they celebrate their achievements and look ahead to the future.

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Muanya was part of the SBS in DC internship program during Summer 2023

Q: What message do you hope to convey in your speech?

A: Graduating college, although millions of people do it every year, millions of people don't do it every year. Especially in the Honors College where you have to complete a thesis. So just being able to take a moment to look yourself in the mirror and say "I actually accomplished this" — we're going to accomplish a lot more, this is not the end, but let's celebrate ourselves.

Celebrate they will, as they gather on May 16th at the Mullins Center for the Celebration of Excellence. Each graduate will be recognized by name, highlighting their unique accomplishments and contributions. Donning their caps and gowns, they’ll proudly receive their Honors College gold stole, symbolizing their dedication and excellence.

But this ceremony is about more than personal achievements. It's a celebration of a community that has faced unprecedented adversity and emerged not just intact, but thriving. It's a testament to the bonds forged through shared challenges and the power of a supportive academic environment.

As Muanya takes the stage, his words will serve as a reflection of the past, a celebration of the present, and a call to action for the future. His message will resonate with all those who have shared in the CHC experience — the late nights spent working on thesis drafts, the engaging discussions in intimate classroom settings, the laughter and tears shared with fellow scholars who have become like family.

And as the Class of 2024 steps out into the world, they will carry with them not just the knowledge and skills gained through their CHC education, but the intangible gifts of resilience, adaptability, and the unshakeable belief in their own power to shape their journeys.

In Muanya's words, "We're going to accomplish a lot more. This is not the end, but let's celebrate ourselves." 

It's a fitting sentiment for a class that has already achieved so much, and a promising prelude to the incredible things they will undoubtedly achieve in the years to come. So let the celebration begin — a celebration of resilience, of community, of the indomitable spirit of the Commonwealth Honors College Class of 2024. As they cross the stage and turn their tassels, they will do so not just as graduates, but as living proof of the transformative power of an Honors education.