A Celebration of Friendship, Growth, and Excellence: My Honors College Farewell
By Nina Prenosil
Content
On April 29th at 5 p.m., around 500 Honors seniors gathered in the lobby of the Fine Arts Center, adorned with their caps and gowns. Students mingled and anxiously awaited instruction to enter the auditorium, where they would celebrate the first of many senior celebrations for the Class of 2025 at UMass Amherst. I arrived at around 5:15 with my two friends, Carol and Sam, and after saying hi to the friends we have gotten to know over the years, we descended the stairs to our seats.
The three of us sat with our friends Ethan, Simon, and Owen, whom we have known since nearly the beginning of our time in the Honors College. I looked around in disbelief that the day had finally come, and I was sharing this experience with some of my closest friends. I personally feel very connected to the CHC because I am both a student and an employee, so my experience has been multifaceted. As the ceremony began, I felt a rush of excitement and was overcome with emotion.
My time in the Honors College was about to be over, but my story was just beginning.
Speakers Congratulate the Graduating Honors Class
The ceremony began at 6 p.m. and was followed by speeches from Dean Mari Castañeda, Chancellor Javier Reyes, and Provost Fouad Abd-El-Khalick. Each of the speakers congratulated the audience on their accomplishments and expressed that they feel confident in our ability to change the world, whether on a large or small scale. After their remarks, Laleh Panahi approached the podium and addressed the audience as a fellow graduating student. I have known of Panahi for some years, as we are both members of the Massachusetts Daily Collegian, but I had never known her story—so I was so glad to see her grace the stage.
Her speech was nothing short of inspiring, and left me with a strong desire to continue to pursue my passions.
I would be lying if I said that at that moment I wasn’t feeling a bit burnt out and was anxious about my future plans. But Panahi’s words reignited the fire that had been dimmed.
Once Panahi’s speech concluded, students were instructed to begin filing towards the stage to receive their Commonwealth Honors College gold stole. This was one of my favorite moments of the ceremony as I got to see the faces of so many of my friends and peers projected on the screen above the stage. I was filled with pride on behalf of everyone in that room. As I walked up the steps and waited in line to smile and wave at the camera, I was nervously fixing my hair and straightening my stole. When my time came, I was struck with a sense of accomplishment and smiled widely at the camera, knowing my family and friends were watching from home. That moment is a memory I will hold onto forever.
Celebrating as Honors Graduates
After each of the 500 graduates received their stoles, we filed outside to enjoy the ceremony held on the concourse outside of the Fine Arts Center. We danced, laughed, smiled, and of course, some cried. It was an emotional moment for many students, but the air was filled with joy and excitement.
Working hard and creating change is always a cause for celebration, and that is why we call it the Celebration of Excellence.
Featuring
Nina Prenosil
Nina Prenosil is a communications assistant in Commonwealth Honors College.
