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Mike Ferlazzo
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mike.ferlazzo@bucknell.edu
Meet the Student Speaker for Bucknell’s 173rd Commencement
Ask Kaia Rendo ’23 what sold her on attending Bucknell, and you won’t hear about the gorgeous buildings, the packed student-life calendar or even the diverse academic offerings. You’ll hear about the people.
“I absolutely loved the small, welcoming community on this campus,” says Rendo, an English – creative writing, political science and Spanish triple-major from Elmwood Park, N.J. “When I visited for the first time, I immediately thought, ‘This is perfect. This is it.’ “
That visit was in late May of Rendo’s senior year of high school, after she’d come off of the admissions waitlist. This spring, she’ll finish her Bucknell journey on the Commencement stage, where she’ll address the Class of 2023 as this year’s student speaker.
Her message – partly inspired by a run-in with an alum during a study abroad trip to Iceland – will reflect on the warmth, strength and long-lasting impact of the Bucknell community.
“Walking to class, it’s impossible not to see one or two people that you know. It’s amazing how that experience extends beyond campus and into the real world as well,” Rendo says. “Even though we’re leaving this physical place, that doesn’t mean that Bucknell is no longer going to be a part of who we are or that the people we met here will no longer be there to support us. That idea of carrying this University with us for the rest of our lives is what I really wanted to share with the class.”
When she graduates, Rendo will carry much more than a diploma. She’ll walk into the future with invaluable skills and relationships garnered through her various roles on campus. In addition to leading multiple student organizations (Pre-law Society, Minority Law Society and Mock Trial), she served as a peer consultant at the Writing Center and an executive intern in President John Bravman’s office. After spending her first year living in the Social Justice Residential College, Rendo also took a position as a residential advisor (RA) – a decision that was inspired by former RA and 2021 Commencement student speaker Ruby Lee ’21, who led Rendo’s tour during her first campus visit.
As a first-generation college student, Rendo says she’s proud to add her Commencement speech to her list of accomplishments.
“Coming to college was a big deal for me, and there was so much that I had to navigate on my own,” says Rendo, who plans to pursue an international law degree at the University of Pennsylvania after graduation. “I can’t wait to see my parents’ faces and give them the pride of seeing me up there on the stage.”
Bucknell’s 173rd Commencement
This year’s Commencement is scheduled for 10 a.m. May 14, 2023, on Malesardi Quadrangle. Tickets are not required for Commencement if held outside on Malesardi Quad.
As in past years, the ceremony will be livestreamed on Bucknell’s Commencement web page and Facebook page.
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Kaia Rendo ’23