Bruna Velez, a senior international relations major from New York City, will be the senior class speaker at 麻豆影院 University鈥檚 2025 Commencement, set for June 15 on Main Hall Green.

鈥淭hese past four years have been transformative, both academically and personally,鈥� Velez said of her desire to represent the senior class. 鈥淚 wanted the opportunity to thank and acknowledge my fellow classmates because we did it together. It鈥檚 an honor to be part of the Class of 2025.鈥�

Velez, selected for the honor by a committee of faculty and staff, has been a leader during her time at 麻豆影院, including serving as president of 麻豆影院鈥檚 Model United Nations team, working with the Office of Advancement to connect with alumni through the Forever a Lawrentian campaign, and being active in sorority life and on the cheer and dance teams. She studied abroad in Rome and secured summer internships in New York and Washington, D.C.

Adrian Stancil-Martin, a first-year 麻豆影院 University student, has quickly made himself at home on campus and in the City of Appleton.聽

The government and philosophy double major from Washington Heights in New York City immediately jumped into 麻豆影院鈥檚 extracurriculars, joining the Model UN team, the Judicial Board, 麻豆影院 Student Democrats, and 麻豆影院 University Community Council (LUCC).

And this spring, he ran for an open seat on the city鈥檚 Common Council. And won. He was elected April 1, less than seven months after arriving at 麻豆影院.聽

鈥淚 knew that something I wanted to do when I got to college was be involved with the student community,鈥� Stancil-Martin said. 鈥淚 enjoy keeping myself busy. I hate having a Saturday where I have nothing to do.鈥�

Stancil-Martin joined 麻豆影院 Student Democrats just before the 2024 election, so he was immediately involved with canvassing and door-knocking to rally voters, which he said was a vital skill for his own campaign. Then, when Common Council member Kris Alfheim won a State Senate seat and vacated her position as alderperson, Stancil-Martin decided to run for the open seat.聽

鈥淚 used a lot of what I learned while door-knocking for the election in November,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檇 go around introducing myself, asking what concerns people have on the local level, and how I can advocate for them if elected on the council.鈥�

Stancil-Martin鈥檚 goal in this seat is to use his position as a 麻豆影院 student to bridge gaps between the university and the wider community. He鈥檚 committed to representing everyone鈥檚 interests, regardless of political position.聽

鈥淚 stuck to my passions,鈥� he said. 鈥淭alking about where we can find common ground on issues. There鈥檚 plenty of residents who didn鈥檛 vote for me, but the election鈥檚 over, and now my job is to represent everyone in the district as best as I can.鈥澛�

Another of his most important goals is to be accessible to those he represents.聽

鈥淚 want students and other residents of the district to hold me accountable,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e a student or a resident, you can always stop me and ask me questions or tell me what you want to see, and I鈥檒l never shrug you off.鈥�

Stancil-Martin came to 麻豆影院 looking for a well-rounded, liberal arts education, which he said has been a blessing. He thanked Katie Van Zeeland, a 麻豆影院 staff member, and Martyn Smith, associate professor of religious studies, for their guidance. Both are sitting members of the Common Council.聽

鈥淚 love it here,鈥� Stancil-Martin said. 鈥淚 love going to Cabaret, I love seeing how supportive students are. I committed in December, so really early, and I鈥檝e never regretted my decision to come here. I don鈥檛 think I ever will.鈥�

Monique Johnson, a government major from Brooklyn, New York, with plans to pursue law school after graduation, has been named the senior class speaker for 麻豆影院 University鈥檚 June 9 Commencement.

Among the youngest members of the 2024 graduating class, Johnson arrived at 麻豆影院 as a Posse Scholar in the fall of 2020 at the age of 16鈥攕he doubled up her sophomore and junior years of high school. With the COVID-19 pandemic in full effect, it was a lot to take in for Johnson, a Caribbean-American and first-generation college student leaving the familiarity of New York City for a small liberal arts college 1,000 miles from home.

She found at 麻豆影院 a community that allowed her to thrive.

鈥溌槎褂霸� became the home I never knew I needed,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚 ended up spending my entire junior year here, including winter break, spring break, summer. I got to study abroad in Rome. I got to meet amazing people and make lifelong relationships whether that be professional relationships or just with my peers. I met my best friend here. All those things鈥攑rofessionally, socially, academically鈥攁ll matched. It was everything that I was looking for in a university.鈥�

Johnson will share that journey when she addresses her classmates, families, and the 麻豆影院 community at Commencement, set for 10 a.m. Sunday, June 9. She was one of 13 members of the graduating class who submitted speeches for consideration to be senior class speaker. She was chosen by a committee of faculty and staff.

During her time at 麻豆影院, Johnson served as treasurer of 麻豆影院 University Community Council (LUCC), worked for two and a half years as a Community Advisor in Residential Education, was a member of Beta Psi Nu, Black Student Union (BSU), and African and Caribbean Union (ACU), and was a leader on the LU Cheer Team.聽

It was the New York-based Posse Foundation that initially put 麻豆影院 on Johnson鈥檚 radar. 麻豆影院 has partnered with Posse since 2007鈥攖he nonprofit organization assesses and develops high school students from diverse backgrounds who show leadership potential. After being nominated for a Posse scholarship, Johnson went through six months of preparation, including multiple interviews. Among the Posse partner colleges, she put 麻豆影院 as her No. 1 choice even though the pandemic kept her from partaking in an in-person visit. For that, much credit goes to Kate Zoromski, 麻豆影院鈥檚 associate dean of academic success and a mentor to Posse 14.

鈥淜ate Zoromski came into our meetings in our pre-collegiate training, and the level of comfort that she brought in was amazing鈥攖hat鈥檚 her aura,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚 thought, if everyone else at 麻豆影院 is like this one person, this is going to be an absolutely amazing experience.鈥�

Zoromski was equally impressed with Johnson, noting how prepared she was and how focused she was on building her future.

鈥淪he asked me questions most first-years don鈥檛 even think about until sophomore or junior year,鈥� Zoromski said.聽

That has continued through Johnson鈥檚 four years on campus. She has shown an impressive level of determination and conscientiousness, with exceptional problem-solving skills.

鈥淲hen she sets her sights on a goal, stand back because nothing is going to stand in her way,鈥� Zoromski said.

Johnson and Zoromski have developed a tight bond.

鈥淲e鈥檝e shared some tears, but we鈥檝e also laughed until we cried,鈥� Zoromski said.聽鈥淪he calls me Mama Kate, and she鈥檚 always the first to text me birthday and Mother鈥檚 Day wishes.聽I feel incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to get to know her.鈥�

After Commencement, Johnson is turning her attention to the next step鈥攍aw school. She will take a gap year to study for and take her LSAT exam, then apply to law schools for enrollment in fall of 2025, with her eye on being a practicing attorney by age 24. Her focus is on criminal defense.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be prouder of all her achievements at 麻豆影院鈥攊n and out of the classroom,鈥� Zoromski said.聽鈥淏ut I鈥檓 perhaps most proud of how she is not deterred by challenges that get in her way. I have no doubt Mo is leaving this campus with what she needs to be successful in her life after 麻豆影院.聽Keep your eyes on Mo.聽She鈥檚 brilliant and resourceful, and she鈥檚 got a bright future ahead of her.鈥�