By the time she reached her senior year, Gabby Diaz '25 had fully embraced the spirit of what originally drew her to Bucknell. "I felt like this University was a place that wouldn't simply change me for the better," she says. "It was a place where I could also promote change."

A Posse Scholar from Rockville, Md., Diaz has been driven by a strong desire to cultivate community and actively contribute to it — from leading a student club to conducting research on Bucknell's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Diaz will contribute a parting message this May as the Class of 2025 student speaker at Bucknell's 175th Commencement.

Following an open audition process, Diaz was selected by a committee of students, faculty and staff to address her fellow graduates.

"I think about all of the great things that we have done at Bucknell, and I want to highlight the value of that," says the political science and education double-major. "Our accomplishments are so much more than something to list on a resume or LinkedIn. Everything we've done has helped build on the community and joy we found at Bucknell."

Diaz's speech will center on the importance of slowing down and appreciating the current moment, a message that a staff mentor inspired during a recent study abroad trip in Cuba.

"On our last night there, Marcus Scales [director of Multicultural Student Services] said something that made me reflect on appreciating what is there before it's too late," Diaz says. "I thought about this entire journey of navigating Bucknell and how I was able to find pockets of joy and resilience in what feels like a constantly ever-changing world."

Diaz found many of those pockets in the offices and organizations she worked in throughout her four years. As president of the Latinx Alliance for Community and Opportunity for Students, she strived to enhance the club's dedication to welcoming and empowering students of color. She also served as a peer mentor through the Together Everyone Achieves More program and connected with students from across Bucknell's three colleges as a Writing Center consultant.

In the classroom, Diaz's passion for inclusion led her to partner with Professor David Rojas, Latin American studies, on research spanning from immigration and undocumented activists to diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education. Her studies stretched beyond campus, taking her to Amsterdam, Puerto Rico, Antigua and more. As a first-generation college student, the opportunity for Diaz to immerse herself in "another country's politics, art and local perspectives is something that I definitely don't take for granted," she says.

After graduating, Diaz will head to the University of Maryland to pursue a master's degree in library and information science, preparing her to help others access the knowledge and support she's enjoyed at Bucknell.

As for when she takes the Commencement stage, Diaz hopes her words offer her peers an invitation to pause and honor their journeys so far.

"We're all leaning into that question of what's next," she says. "But I want to invite my classmates to slow down and recognize the beauty around us right now as we're remembering the past and anticipating the future."

One Last Song

Kicking off Commencement will be a rendition of the national anthem by Juliana Capizzi '25, a biomedical engineering major from Chevy Chase, Md.

Capizzi began opera vocal lessons in eighth grade but eventually found her voice as a jazz vocalist in high school. At Bucknell, she's continued to hone her skills in the all-female Silhouettes a cappella group.

"I love performing in public, whether it's an a cappella concert or an open mic at the 7th Street Cafe," Capizzi says. "I felt that performing at Commencement would be a great way to give back to campus."

Like Diaz, Capizzi's college journey has been marked by enriching connections across campus. The tight-knit design of the biomedical engineering program is what first drew Capizzi to Bucknell.

At Bucknell, Juliana Capizzi '25 continued to hone her singing skill in the all-female Silhouettes a cappella group. Photo by James Giffen, Marketing & Communications

"You take all of the engineering courses with the same 25 people throughout all four years, so you get to know each other well," says Capizzi, who also pursued minors in mathematics and classics & Mediterranean studies. "The engineering faculty always supported my passion for singing and my interests in other fields. They encourage their students to explore outside the department, which has pushed me to be a better student and person."

While her academic interests bloomed, Capizzi's character was refined through her involvement in Bucknell's Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program. With two sisters who are commissioned officers, service has long been a strong calling in Capizzi's life.

"At a young age, I was surrounded by people who had served in the military at some point, and that inspired me," says Capizzi, who received a four-year ROTC scholarship. "I've always felt a calling to give back and commit to something greater than myself.

"The program helped me develop as a leader, especially in a male-dominated environment. I've learned to hold my ground and be confident in my abilities."

Capizzi will be commissioned as an officer the same day she graduates, following her vocal performance on the Commencement stage.

"Singing the national anthem will be a beautiful way to commemorate my time here," she says.

Bucknell's 175th Commencement

This year's Commencement, celebrating the Class of 2025, is scheduled for Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 10 a.m. Tickets are not required for Commencement if held outside on Malesardi Quadrangle.

As in past years, the ceremonies will be livestreamed on Bucknell's Commencement webpage and Facebook page.