Latest news with #Classof
NDTV
4 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
"20 Years, 2 Daughters Later", Rishi Sunak, Akshata Murty Return To Stanford
Two decades after meeting and falling in love on campus, former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, investor and philanthropist Akshata Murty, returned to Stanford Graduate School of Business, not as students but as commencement speakers for the Class of 2025. "This is literally where we met," said Ms Murty during the address on Saturday. Recalling her journey from India to California, she described Stanford as "nothing short of transformational." "It opened our eyes to a whole new way of thinking. It also changed the course of our lives," she said. Ms Murty revealed that a former admissions director once told her, based only on their application essays, that she and Mr Sunak were destined to be together. "So, thank you, Stanford. Twenty years and two daughters later, forget about being the best business school in the world, you're an even better matchmaking service," she joked. Later, she posted a photo from their favourite spot in Stanford on Instagram, writing, "Back up at the Dish for our favourite morning run in Stanford." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rishi Sunak (@rishisunakmp) In her speech, Ms Murty also shared a memory from their student days. "There was no one more annoying than Rishi when we would go on a run. He would beg to come and then he would want to talk to me the whole way around the loop." Together, the couple shared three key life lessons they have learned along the way. The first lesson was about the "comfort of data." "I'm a numbers guy," Mr Sunak said, mentioning how it helped him bond with his father-in-law, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy. But he said there were limitations. "Data can't look around corners," he said. The second takeaway was led by Ms Murty, who focused on bridging idealism with practicality. Reflecting on her early drive to address inequality and push for social change, she spoke about how Mr Sunak would constantly challenge her to think deeper. "He always asked, 'how?' I had genuinely never met someone my age who thought like that," she said. That approach, she explained, helped her shift from purely idealistic goals to taking small, tangible steps that could lead to meaningful impact. "There was no one more intriguing than Rishi when he was talking to me about how to affect social change at scale. Idealism is inspiring, but he helped me see that if it's untethered from reality, there is no traction. You float without impact. I learned from him that the path to achieving something transformational is rooted in the gravity of tangible steps," she said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akshata Murty (@akshatamurty_official) The third principle was drawn from the Sanskrit idea of Dharma, the notion of doing one's duty without obsessing over the result. "It's about finding fulfillment in effort, not outcomes," they said. Mr Sunak closed the speech with a tribute to their relationship, "We've always pushed each other's thinking to become sharper and better." The graduates of Stanford's Class of 2006, got married in 2009.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Memories, gratitude at Quincy graduation ceremony
Jun. 12—QUINCY — Class speaker and Quincy High School teacher Wade Petersen had some praise and some advice for the QHS Class of 2025. "You didn't just buy through high school, you slayed it," Petersen told the seniors. "You became young adults, ready to skibidi your way into the real world." It won't always be easy, though, Petersen said. "Whatever you choose, know this. Life's not always going to be a dub. You're going to take some L's along the way," he said. After high school, it will be up to each graduate to decide what his or her life is going to be, he said. "Just remember as you go into the world, don't be an NPC, be the main character," he said. Valedictorian Jennifer Garcia Lerena said her classmates had been talking about graduation for years, but she remembered how it all started. "I'm reminded of the first time I ever stepped into a classroom, with a backpack that seemed to be bigger than me and a dream that seemed so far out of reach," she said. Graduation was a day to celebrate academic achievement, Garcia Lerena said, but it was more than that. "It's about what each one of us has overcome to get here," she said. Her own family's story is an example, she said — her parents came to a new country to give themselves and their children a better chance. "You taught me the true meaning of hard work and what it takes to work for what I want. When I walk across the stage, I won't be walking just for myself but for my parents and for anyone who sacrificed their chance to finish high school," Garcia Lerena said. Salutatorian Denise Ramirez also talked about the past and the mix of excitement and apprehension of starting kindergarten. "Today, that is exactly what we are going through again; feelings and excitement and anxiety fill us as we carry on," she said. Her classmates put in the work and should be proud of what they accomplished, she said. "My journey hasn't been an easy one, and I'm sure some of you can relate," Ramirez said. The challenge doesn't end with high school, she said. "Change is challenging, but it is the only way we will grow," Ramirez said. Petersen had a few last words for the Class of 2025. "Most importantly, you ate. No crumbs left," Petersen said.
Miami Herald
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU HC returns home as keynote speaker at HS alma mater
HBCU head football coach and associate athletic director at Virginia Union University, Dr. Alvin Parker, is set to return to his roots in Washington, D.C., to deliver the commencement address at Ballou High School-his alma mater in Southeast D.C. This event marks a full-circle moment for the veteran HBCU coach. Parker's leadership at Virginia Union University has elevated the Panthers to the top of the CIAA, earning back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024. Now, he will step off the football field and onto the graduation stage to inspire the Class of 2025. Parker's return to Ballou High School is more than symbolic. It's a homecoming to the very place where his academic and athletic journey began. His story reflects the life-changing opportunities that HBCUs provide for students who are committed to growth, excellence, and purpose. Since taking over the Virginia Union football program in 2018, Dr. Parker has recorded more than 50 wins. Under his guidance, the team has become a dominant force in HBCU football. His success has not gone unnoticed-he was recently named Black College Football Hall of Fame National Coach of the Year. More than wins and titles, Parker's work highlights the broader mission of HBCUs: to develop leaders on and off the field. His journey from a Ballou graduate to a nationally recognized head coach at an HBCU exemplifies this mission in action. Ballou High School has long been recognized for nurturing talent beyond athletics. Notable alumni include comedian Earthquake and former NFL player Marvin Austin. Dr. Parker's upcoming address adds to the school's legacy of excellence and impact. The Ballou High School commencement ceremony featuring Dr. Alvin Parker is scheduled for next week. Local families, students, and supporters of both Ballou and Virginia Union are expected to attend and celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2025. The post HBCU HC returns home as keynote speaker at HS alma mater appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Attention, Class of 2025: Submit your high school graduation photos for our statewide gallery
Calling all Wisconsin high school graduates in the Class of 2025. We want to feature your graduation photos! USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin is asking students, parents and readers to submit their favorite graduation photos here. We'll create a statewide photo gallery featuring all our submissions throughout the month. SUBMIT: Send us your Class of 2025 graduation photos for our statewide gallery Of note, these should be cap and gown photos and not professional senior portraits. Here's a look at last year's gallery that had 126 submissions for what we're looking for. Congratulations to the Class of 2025! This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Class of 2025: High school graduation Wisconsin photo gallery callout
Malaysian Reserve
31-05-2025
- Health
- Malaysian Reserve
Duke-NUS celebrates 20 years of medical innovation with largest ever graduating class
Duke-NUS Medical School's Class of 2025 graduates 121 medical and doctoral students, including MDs, MD-PhDs, PhDs, and masters' degrees Landmark first batch of Masters in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality graduates, unique to Southeast Asia Inaugural graduates from conditional admissions pathways with NUS and SUTD 41% of MD and MD-PhD graduates made bold mid-career shifts from fields such as law, PR, accounting and mental health support SINGAPORE, May 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Celebrating 20 years of transformative medical education, Duke-NUS Medical School graduated its largest cohort yet today, the Class of 2025, in a vibrant ceremony at the Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium in Academia attended by guest-of-honour Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health. Marking a strategic milestone for Duke-NUS, the graduating class included 72 Doctor of Medicine (MD) graduates—five of whom are also earning PhDs—and 27 PhD candidates from the Integrated Biology and Medicine, Quantitative Biology and Medicine and Clinical and Translational Sciences programmes. Among the MD graduates was the first group of individuals emerging from the Duke-NUS conditional admissions pathways with the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). These pathways are designed to attract talent from engineering, information technology and other undergraduate programmes. Dean Professor Thomas Coffman said: 'Collaborating with seven partner universities, including Duke University and NUS, these pathways are designed to allow students to earn a first degree in diverse academic majors while providing an opportunity to seamlessly transition into medicine. It's a powerful model for developing doctors who are outstanding clinicians but also bring valuable multi-disciplinary skills into our healthcare system.' This cohort also includes the inaugural batch of graduates of the Master's in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality (MPSHQ) programme, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. The MPSHQ is focused on building highly reliable healthcare systems that are of consistent quality and safety. The Class of 2025 represents Duke-NUS' commitment to broadening the skillset and experience of our students, with 41 per cent of MD and MD-PhD graduates having transitioned mid-career from professions that include law, public relations, accounting and mental health peer support. Additionally, 58 per cent of the Class of 2025's graduates are women, underscoring the School's dedication to fostering diversity in the learning environment. Said Dr Faith Wong Pih Yng, previously a modelmaking student and senior peer support specialist at Singapore's Institute of Mental Health, now MD graduate, 'Among the many hospital postings, what stood out most vividly was assisting in and witnessing childbirth—the intense anticipation and joy of welcoming a new life into the world was simply unmatched. Ultimately, however, the memories I cherish most are the countless hours spent with my classmates, supporting one another and peer-teaching.' Duke-NUS MD graduates received their degrees, awarded jointly by Duke University and the National University of Singapore, in front of friends and family, as well as notable guests, including Duke University School of Medicine Dean Professor Mary Klotman, SingHealth Group CEO Professor Ng Wai Hoe, and keynote speaker, Dr Amy Abernethy, member of Duke University's board of trustees and co-founder of Highlander Health. Caring and compassion underlines the Class of 2025's accomplishments, especially beyond academia. Partaking in a wealth of community service projects, some of their cohort, such as Dr Dana Chow Wai Shin, MD, started the Healthy to Thrive initiative, the first Duke-NUS-led public health screening event dedicated to migrant workers. The cohort was also recognised for their outstanding achievements, which were given out the night before. Awards such as the Singapore Medical Association-Lee Foundation Prizes and Teamsmanship Awards presented to graduates who demonstrated excellence in academics, community service, and leadership. In the aspect of research and scholarship, the Class of 2025 did not flag, publishing an exceptional 253 papers and publications in their time at Duke-NUS, several as first authors in prominent journals such as Nature Medicine, Immunity and EMBO Molecular Medicine. MD-PhD graduate Dr Katherine Nay Yaung, first author on a paper published in Lancet Rheumatology, wrote about artificial intelligence and high-dimensional technologies to diagnose and treat autoimmune diseases, and PhD graduate Dr Aishwarya Prakash, named first author and published in American Heart Association Journal, who found a type of peptide to have protective qualities for the heart after sustaining damage. 'The conversations I've had with patients emphasise a shift towards continuity of care and empowering individuals to make their own health choices. In moments where I feel overwhelmed, I remind myself that being a small part of each patient's journey has been a privilege,' said Dr Pang Wui Ming Jeremy, recipient of the SingHealth Prize in Family Medicine, Singapore Medical Association-Lee Foundation Teamsmanship Award for exemplary team values in medicine and Duke-NUS Achievement Prize. As Duke-NUS enters its third decade, the School continues to redefine medical education and research, nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders who are not just exceptional doctors but visionary innovators ready to make an impact in Singapore and beyond. About Duke-NUS Medical School Duke-NUS is Singapore's flagship graduate-entry medical school, established in 2005 with a strategic, government-led partnership between two world-class institutions: Duke University School of Medicine and the National University of Singapore (NUS). Through an innovative curriculum, students at Duke-NUS are nurtured to become multi-faceted 'Clinicians Plus' poised to steer the healthcare and biomedical ecosystem in Singapore and beyond. A leader in ground-breaking research and translational innovation, Duke-NUS has gained international renown through its five Signature Research Programmes and ten Centres. The enduring impact of its discoveries is amplified by its successful Academic Medicine partnership with Singapore Health Services (SingHealth), Singapore's largest healthcare group. This strategic alliance has led to the creation of 15 Academic Clinical Programmes, which harness multi-disciplinary research and education to transform medicine and improve lives. For more information, please visit
