Meet the Spring 2025 Commencement Reflection Speakers

Spring Commencement will take place May 1 – 3, and at each of the four ceremonies, a student reflection speaker will address their fellow graduates to share their experience and offer words of encouragement as they celebrate this pivotal milestone.  

The speakers are Anamik Jhunjhunwala, a Ph.D. biomedical engineering candidate; Madelyn Novelli, a bachelor’s computer science candidate; Daraja Brown, a bachelor's civil engineering candidate; and Irene Feijoo, a master’s analytics candidate.   

Anamik Jhunjhunwala — Ph.D. Ceremony 

Anamik Jhunjhunwala had already earned two master's degrees at Georgia Tech — M.S. BME 2023, M.S. Analytics 2024 — along with two bachelor's degrees from the University of California San Diego, but navigating a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering felt like uncharted territory. In his address to his fellow doctoral students, he intends to celebrate their achievements by stressing the resilience, humility, and gratitude it took to reach this point, as well as the ability to leave a "map" for the next generation of Yellow Jackets.  

"You once stood upon the shoulders of giants, who carried you to the edges of knowledge. As you stand at the frontier today, through your dedication and determination, each of you has become a giant yourself. Someday soon, new explorers will stand on your shoulders, looking toward new horizons, and you'll guide them into the unknown," he said.    

Jhunjhunwala credits mentors, friends, and family for helping him along his journey, and he has tried to assist others throughout his time here. In addition to research and entrepreneurial pursuits, the President's Fellow mentored undergraduate students and served as a teaching assistant and an advisory board member for the Graduate Orientation Program.  

He will miss the "helluva crowd" of peers at Georgia Tech, and after finishing lab work, Jhunjhunwala will travel to India to visit his family before returning to Atlanta to join the Boston Consulting Group. 

Madelyn Novelli — Bachelor’s Morning Ceremony    

Madelyn Novelli thought she knew what she needed to do when she got to Georgia Tech — study hard to maintain a good GPA, complete internships, and follow an established path to success. But as she finishes her computer science degree, she wants to share the concept of “identity capital” from The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter — And How to Make the Most of Them Now as she and her fellow graduates enter the next phase of their lives.   

"Looking back, I realize that my resume isn't all that different from many of my peers. It made me reflect on whether I was building a life that's uniquely mine, or just checking boxes,” she said. “The most valuable capital we can invest in ourselves isn't just what looks good on paper — it's the time and energy we put into developing ourselves, whether that's through education, work, personal projects, or pursuing other passions. We have so much time in our lives to define ourselves and build our stories, and we don't have to follow a formula to do it." 

The Institute became a "land of opportunity" for Novelli, and she spent her extracurricular time finding ways to help others in the Georgia Tech community as an active member of the Student Government Association, the NASPA Culture of Respect Collective, and working as a student assistant at Georgia Tech Professional Education.    

After taking the summer to unwind with her friends and family, Novelli will begin her career as a data analyst in Birmingham, Alabama.  

Daraja Brown — Bachelor’s Afternoon Ceremony 

Yellow jackets are social insects that thrive in a hive surrounded by their fellow worker bees. From snowball fights in front of Tech Tower to the long nights studying in the libraries, Daraja Brown saw parallels between the Institute mascot and the Georgia Tech student body. While every student's next step is different, Brown implores her peers to keep their yellow jacket — and Yellow Jacket — spirit with them wherever they go.   

"What ties everyone here together is not just wearing the same gown, but that we all are passionate about something, and we dedicate ourselves to living out those passions," she said. "I urge you to use what you've gained as a student here and apply it for the benefit of those around you. In five, 10, or 50 years, I hope you continue to reflect on what it truly means to be a Yellow Jacket."   

A Stamps President’s Scholar, Brown served as a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and captain of the Timber-Strong Design Build team. Through Engineers Without Borders, she participated in international aid projects and was a sub-team lead on the Building for Equity and Sustainability Vertically Integrated Project.  

Fully recovered from a childhood fear of the insect after being stung, Brown will remain a Yellow Jacket to pursue a master's degree in civil engineering after spending the summer interning with an Atlanta engineering firm.  

Irene Feijoo Cedillo — Master’s Ceremony 

Commencement represents the final step of many graduates’ Georgia Tech journey, including Irene Feijoo. While she has always heard that the first step is the most important, Feijoo wants to challenge her classmates to look forward to the next step and keep the same approach they’ve taken to complete their degree programs.  

“The habits we have built during these years — showing up, asking questions, solving problems — are what really matter going forward,” she said. “I hope we stay open to change, keep supporting the people around us, and continue learning. Hopefully, moving forward, it will be in ways that don’t necessarily come with exams or deadlines. And as we move on, I hope we also take a second to appreciate how far we have come and the values and people that helped us get here.” 

After earning her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Feijoo returned to pursue a master’s degree in analytics. Along with tailgates and trivia nights, she was active in several student organizations on campus, including as president of Suit Up Professional Preparation.   

After five years as a student here, Feijoo will take a break to “travel and recharge.” Eager to explore other cultures, she intends to visit Vietnam, Japan, and the Philippines before beginning her career in consulting services, applying her background in technology and supply chain management.