From quarantine to red carpet, long road ends at commencement for WPI's class of 2024
WORCESTER — The journey to graduation was anything but easy for the Worcester Polytechnic Institute class of 2024. After most of them graduated high school during the COVID-19 pandemic, they spent their first year of college online via Zoom. On Friday afternoon, the WPI class of 2024 celebrated their journey's end at commencement ceremonies at the DCU Center.
"Today's commencement is especially meaningful," WPI President Grace J. Wang told the graduates. "The global pandemic kept many of you from having an in-person high school graduation ceremony. It's truly a joy and honor to celebrate our graduates in person, together."
WPI's commencement speaker, WPI graduate and Emmy-nominated television writer Nancy M. Pimental, told the graduates about her time at WPI and how the skills she gained in college helped her pursue a job in the arts.
"You've learned to think critically, solve problems logically and work together collaboratively," Pimental said in her commencement speech. "The possibilities are unlimited."
Pimental, a 1987 graduate of WPI, worked on "South Park" and "Shameless" after graduating. Although she received her degree in chemical engineering from the school, she always dreamed of moving to Los Angeles and pursuing a career in writing.
"WPI prepared me for the real world and for my career in Los Angeles," Pimental said. "Not only did this institution make me a well-rounded person, but it also gave me something I didn't have before I came here: confidence."
Growing up, Worcester native Peter Korfuzi had to walk everywhere. It was the only way for him to get from one place to another. Korfuzi graduated from WPI Friday. He went to Worcester Public Schools, was accepted for WPI and received multiple scholarships to help his educational journey thrive.
"I came into college as a first-generation, low-income student. I didn't really know how to navigate the college landscape, I was surrounded by amazing peers and at times, things were overwhelming," said Korfuzi, who got his bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering.
Korfuzi was part of WPI's Great Minds/CoMPASS Scholar Program. The scholarship program is designed for low-income, academically talented, first-generation students from Worcester Public Schools.
"It gave me a community to be a part of straight off the bat with mentors and advisers support networks. If there was anything I needed, I had somebody to go to," Korfuzi said. "This was important as a first-generation student because naïveté is a really strong thing. You don't know what you don't know."
Having this community at WPI allowed Korfuzi to transition to college life comfortably. He had mentors to guide him and answer questions he may have had about the college process.
"There was a lot of overcoming and a lot of growth. At moments, you have to tell yourself, Look, my roots as a first-generation student, what I'm doing now is amazing stuff," Korfuzi said. "At WPI, you're surrounded by many amazing people, friends and peers and you kind of lose sight of the fact that you're a first-generation student because you're working alongside them, learning with them and thriving with them. At the same time, there was a lot of hard work done."
Korfuzi plans to stay in Worcester and do more with the Worcester community. He plans to visit his teachers from high school to share he graduated from WPI.
"I think it's gonna really special," Korfuzi said. "Worcester is my home. I was born and raised here and it has a very special place in my heart."
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This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester Polytechnic Institute holds 2024 commencement ceremony
