When Neumann removed the automatic designation of class valedictorian as a commencement speaker, it also expanded the number of student voices that would be heard during graduation ceremonies by selecting students to speak at three events. Meet the students who won those speaking roles.
Undergraduate Ceremony: May 17 at 2 p.m.
Alyssa Papasodero is an Elementary and Special Education major who has served as a Presidential Ambassador, president of the Student Government Association, president of Knights for Education, and treasurer of the Eagles Autism Foundation Program. She is a member of the women’s ice hockey team and has been a peer tutor in the Writing Center.
In her application to be a student speaker, she wrote “Neumann’s Franciscan values have guided my actions, reminding me that service is not just something we do; it is who we are called to be. My time here has taught me the importance of building relationships, supporting others, and contributing to a community that prioritizes respect, integrity, and inclusion.”
Graduate Ceremony: May 17 at 10 a.m.
As an undergraduate (BS in Health Sciences 2022), Thomas Loftus was a member of the men’s golf team and club baseball team as well as a peer tutor, a Presidential Ambassador, and vice president of the Health Sciences Club. Currently he is a member of the Service Committee for the DPT Program and the sitting Senator for Graduate Students in SGA.
“My Thursdays on campus have been spent with the lovely Sisters of Saint Francis who seek Physical Therapy services, which the PT program provides pro bono,” he wrote in his application. “I have built incredible relationships with the Sisters over the last few years and friendships here that I will continue to carry with me throughout my life.”
Academic Awards Convocation: May 16 at 1:30 p.m.
Jenna Calchi is a Business Administration major and Accounting minor who has earned her bachelor’s degree in three years and plans to enroll in Neumann’s MBA program this fall. She is a member of the Honors Program, works as a peer tutor in the Student Success Center and has been a member of the women’s ice hockey and softball teams since 2023.
“My experience at Neumann has been diverse, challenging, and incredibly meaningful,” she told the selection committee, “and it has shaped me into a well-rounded student leader who is deeply connected to the campus community. Through these roles, I have built a unique and fulfilling Neumann experience, one rooted in leadership, service, and resilience.”