The George Washington University Class of 2025 graduates will be recognized at Commencement on the National Mall on May 18. Before their big day, GW Today asked a number of the upcoming graduates to share their favorite GW memories. This is the third and last group of vignettes from 2025 grads. Please enjoy their memories:
Kelsey Baker
B.A., Journalism and Mass Communication
“During my time at GW, I’ve experienced what felt like countless turning points in the movie of my life—friendship breakups, exciting job and internship opportunities and even classes that left me wondering why I bothered. At first, I thought those moments would define my college experience. But over time, I’ve realized that what truly shaped these years were the people. They say college is where you meet your lifelong friends, and for me, that couldn't be more true. During the first week on campus, I met Nyema and Tomi—two women who would become pillars in my life. We’ve supported each other through heartbreak, uncertainty and every small victory in between. Our friendship is the heartbeat of my college story. While there are aspects of GW I may question or critique, I will always be grateful. Because this university gave me two of the most important people in my life.”
Diana Burrows
B.S., Neuroscience
“It’s been very difficult to choose a favorite memory. I’ve met so many amazing people who have taken me to amazing places. The friends I’ve made at GW have become what we call the D.C. family. Some of my greatest memories are from us studying, traveling, eating and just being together. I found the D.C. area to be rich in diverse foods and restaurants, and discovered a love for Thai food I never knew I had before. I have many cherished memories of late-night metro rides, Amtrak trips and monument walks. Though hellish at times, studying in Gelman was made cozy with friends. Snowball fights, cooking dinners together and festive parties were all great memories from the holiday season. I felt welcomed at GW like never before, and I will hold onto these memories forever.”
Elly Cummins
M.A., Speech-Language Pathology
“One of the most meaningful parts of my time at GW has been the strong sense of community built with my fellow Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences graduate students and the faculty. Whether it was sharing laughs and learning more about each other in our cohort room, soaking up the sun while reviewing for exams at the student center’s outdoor space or taking dance breaks to stay energized during long days—these small moments of connection and support have truly defined my experience.”
MC Daubendiek
B.A., Fine Arts and Art History
“My favorite place at GW is the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design’s Flagg Building. Because it is technically ‘off campus,’ not many students organically stumble upon it. As soon as I stepped inside, I felt the energy of the building. It was buzzing with secrets and a complicated history and community that I knew I needed to be a part of. I decided at that moment that I would switch my major from political science to fine arts, which ended up changing the trajectory of my life. I have since unlocked (almost) all of the Flagg Building's hidden self, made lifelong friendships and revived my dreams of being an artist. One of my favorite activities is bringing people from other parts of GW into the space and seeing them light up with curiosity and wonder. I am forever grateful for the Flagg Building and the amazing people that keep it alive.”
Ella Hattem
B.A., Archaeology and Art History
“One of the most gratifying moments of my time at GW was hosting a reception for the opening of my exhibition, ‘Creation Myths.’ I had always wanted to put together a show like this, so I was incredibly excited to do so at the Flagg Building. Because I didn’t have studio space in D.C., I completed nine new paintings over winter break, taking inspiration from the research I was conducting on astronomy in archaeology, in addition to works on paper I had made throughout the semester. I worked nearly non-stop, and in the end, I had something I was really proud of. It had taken a lot of time and effort for me to put everything together, and it was only possible through the friendships I made here. Above all, it was so rewarding to host my friends who came to see my work and to celebrate with me.”
Ava Rose Holtzman
B.A., Political Science, minors Sociology and Sustainability
“One of my favorite courses I have taken during my undergraduate career is World on a Plate with Dr. Mya O. Price. Beyond being a sustainability course that fulfilled one of my minor requirements, World on a Plate is a Community Engaged Scholarship course wherein students are required to complete community service hours at a local organization throughout the semester. In the interest of breaking the infamous ‘Foggy Bottom bubble,’ I chose to complete my volunteer requirement at DC Greens community farm and garden space at the Well at Oxon Run in Southeast D.C. Each time I visited the Well, without fail, I entered a space already filled with community members gathering food, discussing the farm’s seasonal offerings and joining staff in cleaning, planting and harvesting activities. Volunteering is a huge part of my personal and professional life, and my time at the Well allowed me to connect all that I have learned about food production, food inequality, sustainable eating and the cultural importance of food in building community in class to a deeply meaningful volunteer experience.”
Jonathan Huie
Ph.D., Biological Sciences
“One of my favorite parts of my graduate experience at GW has been the weekly departmental seminars and socials. Friday seminars were great ways to learn about new science outside of my immediate field, while the subsequent socials allowed me to interact with the faculty and other graduate students, as well as wind down after a long week. Seminars also got more interesting once the department started inviting our own graduate students to give short talks. It is difficult to keep up with everyone’s work, so these student talks provided a way for me to learn more about my peers' accomplishments.”
Roee Tenne
M.A., International Economic Policy (STEM Track)
“One of my best memories at GW was clinching a spot in the Atlantic 10 postseason with the men's soccer team on Halloween night in October 2022. It was the last game of the regular season—a must-win match away at George Mason, our biggest conference rivals—and the atmosphere was amazing. What made it even more special was the number of our friends who made the journey from Foggy Bottom to Fairfax. Despite being the away team, it felt like a home game. When the final whistle blew after our 3-0 win, there was this overwhelming sense of joy, relief and pride. We had worked hard all season, and in that moment, everything came together. Celebrating on the field with our teammates and fans reminded me of just how united our team was—and how lucky I was to share that with them.”
Quinn Stefan
B.S., Physics, minor Geology
“I’ve had the opportunity to go to Smithsonian museums for three different classes in my time at GW (twice to the National History Museum for geology classes and once to the National Gallery of Art to write a paper for an art class), and each time I am so grateful to have gone to school in this incredible city. I still seek out that piece of art every time I visit the gallery, and I say hi to specific fossils I wrote about when I’m in the National History Museum. Being able to experience this culture and history so closely has been a privilege and a wonderful part of my GW experience.”
Emily Springer
B.F.A., Fine Arts
“One of my favorite ‘only-at-GW’ moments was when my classmates and I got a behind-the-scenes tour of the Hirshhorn Museum. As a fine arts student, it was amazing to see how a renowned museum operates. We toured the different departments including the art conversation wing, the artwork storage and the communications offices. This trip was very meaningful because it gave insight on what jobs exist in the arts, which was helpful to a graduating senior. Being able to tour the Hirshhorn was a rare opportunity that only happened because I was taking professional practice fine arts classes at GW.”