Marvina Brewer, mother of Reginald M. Brewster ’21, expressed the joy felt by many in the room. Her son “had a wonderful time at Amherst,” she said, “and we are so happy today!” Added Roland Brewster, Reginald’s father: “It’s a wonderful day. We are lucky that Amherst was able to pull this off. We are wishing the best going forward for these young men and women.”
“I am grateful to see her graduate and to see it in a time when students have risen to the occasion in such a gracious way,” said Nina Fitzgerald. She and Frank Fitzgerald are the parents of Nina Jodko Fitzgerald ’21. Fitzgerald, who swam the breast stroke for the women’s swim team, did her chemistry thesis on “Increased Stabilization of Supramolecular Naphthalenediimide Nanotubes.”
“I feel appreciation and am thankful for this amazing school,” said Jasmine Je, mother of Grace Cho ’21.” I am also grateful that my daughter got a good job!” she added, her eyes smiling substantially above her mask. “She is going to be a product manager at Microsoft.”
We asked Peter Shulman, father of Dashiell Shulman ’21, how he was experiencing today, having traveled to Amherst from the family’s home state of Oregon. “How do I feel? We are very happy and grateful. Dashiell has been so well nurtured and nourished during the time he has spent at Amherst. I feel the College has gone above and beyond to create a supportive environment.” Leslie Williams, Dashiell’s mother, then shared her admiration for “switching it up,” meaning moving the ceremony indoors because of inclement weather: “I can’t imagine the logistics.” In 2019, Dashiell Shulman won first place in “Truth: Amherst College’s Public Speaking Competition.”
“She’s my firstborn,” said Senait Mussie-Hadgu of DeLyna Hadgu ’21, glad for her children’s inaugural college graduation experience: “I’m so excited for this day!” Hadgu, an art history major, learned remotely from her home in Chicago and while studying in Greece. At Amherst, Hadgu facilitated a program at the Mead Art Museum that examined how Black women are depicted in art. She is moving to New York after graduation, hoping to get a job in the museum world.
Massimo Mariano, father of Christianna Mariano ’21, dressed in vivid purple, flaunting his school spirit. His daughter is a neuroscience and theater and dance major who did a 2019 presentation on sonification of data around zebrafish, as part of her work in the lab of biology professor Joseph Trapani. Asked what the 2021 commencement meant to him and his family, the proud father answered: “I want you to understand how amazing Amherst has been for Christianna. I’m Italian, and Christianna is a first-generation college student on my side. So it is such an incredible honor and opportunity for her to be here today. I couldn’t be more proud and happy.”
“It’s a lot more emotional than I anticipated,” said Awilda Alvarado, mother of Jared Jones ’21. “I thought the indoor set-up would make me feel less emotional, but the set-up doesn’t matter. I’m still emotional and super excited too.” She attended the day with Alana Jones, Jared’s sister.
