Meet the Fall Commencement Reflection Speakers

As 1,819 summer and 4,586 fall graduates celebrate Commencement across three ceremonies, three reflection speakers will address the crowds to offer their perspectives on their Georgia Tech journeys and offer parting words of advice to their classmates.  

The speakers are Bilal Mufti, a Ph.D. aerospace engineering candidate; Rishi Bengani, a bachelor’s computer science candidate; and Atul Verma, a master's computer science candidate.  

Bilal Mufti – Ph.D.    

As an undergraduate student in Pakistan, Bilai Mufti saw a photo of Tech Tower and thought to himself, "Maybe someday I'll be at Georgia Tech." As he graduates with a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering, a master's in aerospace engineering, and a master's in computational science and engineering, Mufti wants to share the power of “maybe” with his classmates. 

"It's a simple word, yet it holds the power to ignite dreams and inspire courage. Through my speech, I hope to share a message about embracing the uncertainty of life — a feeling I'm sure many of us have become well-acquainted with during this Ph.D. journey. I'll recount how my own journey started with a wishful ‘maybe’ and how it has transformed into a profound lesson about perseverance, community, and self-discovery,” he said.  

While at the Institute, the Fullbright Fellow challenged himself to keep exploring. Though he fell short of his goal of visiting every state, Mufti traveled to 42 of them while pursuing his degrees, getting involved with the Fulbright Student Association and the Pakistani Students Association, and earning a Management of Technology Graduate Certificate from the Scheller College of Business.  

After Commencement, Mufti will take a break from crossing states off his list and relax in Florida before returning to Pakistan as an assistant professor to foster innovative research in aerospace engineering in his home country.    

Rishi Bengani – Bachelor's 

After Commencement, Rishi Bengani knows that many of his classmates will go their separate ways, but he intends to leave them with the message of a shared bond that will last a lifetime as Yellow Jackets. He adds that it's important to celebrate the successes and obstacles overcome on the way to turning their tassels.  

“Enjoy the journey as much as the destination. Life isn't just about crossing the finish line. It's about tripping a little, laughing at yourself, and making sure you've got some great stories to tell along the way," he said. 

Bengani will graduate with a computer science degree with plans to pursue his passions as an entrepreneur. He credits the Institute for allowing him to hone his skills through experiences with Startup Exchange GT, AI ATL, and CREATE-X.   

Along with his academic pursuits and joining the Student Alumni Association, Bengani says that cultural involvement was a core element of his Georgia Tech experience, joining the Ramblin’ Raas — a student organization celebrating the Gujarati folk dance.  

After Commencement, Bengani will spend time traveling and mentoring his high school's robotics team before moving to New York to join Deloitte as an AI and data consultant engineer.    

Atul Verma – Master's  

Unlike many of his fellow graduates, Atul Verma has over 20 years of experience in his field. From the podium, he will share the philosophy that has guided him along his professional and academic paths. Asked why he chose to climb Mount Everest, English mountaineer George Mallory once said, "Because it's there." Verma says, “That drive to take on new challenges" is something to be admired and replicated, no matter what stage of life you're in.  

"At 52 years old, I've been climbing all my life. But it doesn't matter when you start climbing. What matters is that you do. This degree, this moment, is proof that we're still climbing, still striving, still growing," Verma said.    

While Commencement can feel like the conclusion of a journey, Verma will challenge his classmates to continue to climb.    

"The diploma you hold is not the end; it's the beginning of your next climb. It's proof you've already conquered one mountain, and you're ready for the next."