Students-of-Color, Internationals and Other Diverse Student Populations Recognized with Commencement in Sight
Deanna Vatan shared that there are no more powerful words than love, serve and care. "Do what you love and love what you do. Because you love, you serve. When you love and you serve, you find ways to show you care."
PICTURED: Zahrya Bailey's mother, Dee, presents her with the Kente stole during the Tyehimba ceremony.
Vatan is Wilmington College's associate vice present for retention and student success. In her two years at WC, she has become an exemplar of one who loves, serves and cares when it comes to students. Vatan presented the keynote address at Wilmington College's annual Tyehimba ceremony Tuesday (April 25). The event recognizes the richness and value represented by WC's students-of-color, multicultural and international students.
Tyehimba is a Nigerian word meaning “we are a nation” and is a ceremony with Swahili African roots. Wilmington College makes universal that concept of African origin.
"Graduates-to-be, I hope you felt the love we have for you," Vatan added while urging them to focus on loving, serving and caring one person at a time. "You'll change the hearts and minds of people around you. Your input and the legacy you leave will be great.
"We believe in you and we are so very proud of you."
Others also saluted those from the College's diverse student populations, who are just over two weeks from graduating, during a ceremony that Campus Minister Nancy McCormick described as "this time of building a beloved community." Sigrid Solomon, vice president and chief student affairs officer/dean of students, said, "We have walked beside you during good times and times when maybe you wish you could press the reset button. But you've made it — you've come this far. You've navigated a path forward."
Daniel McCamish, director of institutional effectiveness, has been a regular participant in Diversity + Inclusion trips to Washington, D.C., and iconic locations of the Civil Rights Movement in the South. He hearkened his job involving research and noted that, over the past 10 years only 40 percent of African American students who started as freshmen graduated compared to 53 percent of WC's overall student population.
"We have work to do but you overcame obstacles and you beat the odds!" he said. "Keep making a difference."
Dr. Ursula McTaggart, professor of English, spoke of English 101 as a transitional class at college, one that often makes or breaks students' trajectory to higher education success. She cited capable students who needed a push or a nudge — and now several years later they are graduating.
"We have built connections with you over these last few years and we care about you," she added. "Don't be strangers — come back after graduation!"
Chip Murdock, director of the offices of Diversity + Inclusion and Service and Civic Engagement, served as master of ceremonies. He presented Diversity Impact Awards to McCamish, McTaggart, former President Trevor Bates and Dayna Berry, the latter of whom is a counselor at Dayton Early College Academy, which has several 2023 WC graduates among its alumni.
The mother-daughter duo of alumna Larita Harris-Jones and 2023 graduate-to-be Tiara Harris shared a vocal duet of "You Make a Wave."
"These graduates' success is a result of the village's support," Murdock said in citing all those faculty and staff members who "help our students to the finish line. Many of these scholars have faced and overcome various challenges and statistics to make it to this point and tonight we celebrate these individuals."
Murdock has described these students' graduation from Wilmington College as "my payday."
Each of the graduating seniors at the ceremony was given a colorful stole presented by a special person in their WC experience. The stoles, to be worn with their caps and gowns at Commencement, included the African kente cloth, flags of students' nations of origin and other symbols of various heritages and interests.
Some 18 graduating seniors attended the ceremony while nine others — many of whom are December graduates — were unable to attend. Those participating in the ceremony were: Zahrya D. Bailey, Elijah K. Carson, James Crowder, Mei Mei Davis (China), Elorm K. Dogbey (Ghana), Jadrien C. Douglas, Anthony J. Freeman, Damien R. Harris, Tiara Harris, Quinton E. Huggins, Jaymirr T. Johnson, Savannah F. Manson, Sofija Nikolovska (Macedonia), Eric N. Payne, Edmond I. Taylor, Lauryn T. White, I'Tika Wynn and Yvan Tientcheu.
Multicultural students graduating in May but not attending were: Xavier S. Fuller, Abdul F. Kanu, Bianca D. Madaris, Michael Y. Owusu (Ghana), Treshaun L. Pate, Kailey Rogers, Drezaun C. Shores, Corey A. Talmadge and Jeffry J. Vazquez (El Salvador).