EPPIIC Journey Celebration Honors Perseverance of Graduating Students

The EPPIIC Journey Celebration recognizes the resilience of our students for navigating the challenging journey of obtaining a degree. All the graduates participating conveyed a story that aligns with one of the EPPIIC Values of: Exploration, Professionalism, Public Mission, Integrity, Inclusion, and Compassion," said Ron Wiafe, associate vice president for student affairs, to the audience gathered for Millersville University's second EPPIIC Journey Celebration on Dec. 1.

The event featured remarks from President Daniel A. Wubah, who congratulated the students on their accomplishments and praised them for their strength and perseverance. "Your journey inspires us. Your success strengthens us. And your presence enriches Millersville University," he said. "I want you to know that you have made an indelible mark on this campus. You have raised our expectations for what is possible. You have pushed us to reflect, to grow and to evolve. You have made Millersville a better place than you found it."

Two graduating students then offered reflections on their Millersville journey.

Yetunde Agbanigo, who earned a Master of Education degree in sport management, said, "When I began this journey, I carried with me the hopes of my family back home in Nigeria, my own dreams for the future, and the quiet uncertainty that comes with stepping into a new country, a new system, and a new phase of life. What I did not expect, and what has shaped me the most is the community I found here.

"As I prepare to complete my master's degree, this achievement will transform the opportunities before me. This degree is not just a credential, it is a doorway that has given me the knowledge, confidence and global experience I need to pursue my goals in sports management, which is to serve communities, and to create programs that promote wellness, inclusion and engagement. It allows me to dream bigger, aim higher and return the same kindness and support that I have received here."

Donovan August graduated with a degree in biology. Raised as a girl in an Old Order Mennonite community, he left his community and family to pursue education and service as an EMT, as well as to live his life as a man. "And here's the truth: things didn't just happen to me," he told the audience at the Celebration. "I happened to the world. I put in the work. I carved out a place for myself. I chose education, chose a new family, and a future I could actually imagine myself living in."

August is headed to the University of Minnesota Medical School's Duluth campus, which specializes in training doctors in primary care to serve in rural Minnesota and Native American communities.

"Congrats, fellow queers," he said. "Today isn't just a celebration of our degree, it's a celebration of our growth, our authenticity and our joy. We are here. We are proud. And we are just getting started."

President Wubah charged the 16 students who participated in the event to claim their future after they left Millersville, and to remember the lessons of their EPPIIC journey. "The world needs your voice, your brilliance, and your leadership," he said. "It needs your experiences. It needs your courage to challenge injustice and your creativity to imagine what others believe is impossible."