Commencement 2025: A Celebration of Purpose, Resilience, and Connection
On Sunday, May 18, Hollins University celebrated the class of 2025 at its 183rd commencement ceremony — an inspiring day honoring courage, achievement, and the power of community.
Class President Malaika Amin ’25 delivered a moving reflection on her journey from Pakistan to Hollins and the doors opened through women’s education, from study abroad in France to serving as class president. She celebrated Hollins’ legacy of empowerment and left her classmates with a message of hope and resilience: “The sky is not the limit for any of us.”
Commencement speaker Beth Macy M.A. ’93, award-winning author and journalist, encouraged graduates to embrace their unique voice, lean into what moves them, and build authentic community in an age of distraction. She challenged them to resist disconnection, stay grounded in purpose, and remember the small, beautiful things that tether us to our truest selves. “You are now the helpers,” she reminded. “Carry your purpose forward.”
President Mary Dana Hinton offered heartfelt praise for the class of 2025, honoring their perseverance and the profound impact they’ve made on campus life. She commended graduates not only for finding their place at Hollins, but for “weaving their own vibrant threads into the very fabric of Hollins, helping to craft a new, more resilient, more compassionate heart for us all.”
Honors and Awards
Beth Macy M.A. ’93 received a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoring her remarkable contributions to literature and journalism, and for using her voice to inspire understanding and driving change.
Matilda Iris Sieger (B.A., English) and Mai Nguyen (B.S., mathematics) earned the First Faculty Award for Academic Excellence for the highest academic standing in the class of 2025.
Signe Belle Overby (B.A., studio art and psychology) received the Second Faculty Award for Academic Excellence for earning the second-highest academic standing.
Erin Desiree Masarjian (B.A., studio art) was honored with the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Student Award, celebrating her daily embodiment of kindness, love, and service to others.
Abubakarr Jalloh, assistant professor and chair of the public health department, received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Community Award for his exceptional compassion and leadership in the Hollins community.
Ti-Shawn Wellington (B.S., public health and biology) was awarded the Annie Terrill Bushnell Award, recognizing outstanding leadership during her time at Hollins.
Malaika Amin, (B.S., biology and public health) received the Jane Cocke Funkhouser Award, honoring her excellence in academics, character, and leadership.
