Penn State Brandywine celebrates graduates at spring commencement

MEDIA, Pa. — One-hundred forty-two graduates received their bachelor’s degrees at Penn State Brandywine’s spring 2026 commencement ceremony on May 9 in the campus gymnasium. An additional five students were awarded associate degrees.

Regional Chancellor Marilyn J. Wells commended the graduates and noted that they had become changemakers who would help create a better world in their careers, their lives and their communities.

“Today is more than a ceremony — it is a moment suspended in time. A moment when we pause to honor the incredible journey each of you and your families has taken to arrive right here, right now,” she said. “You arrived in fall 2022, maybe earlier, full of anticipation, excitement, uncertainty, hope and many more emotions, but all of you with dreams. Dreams that maybe you shared with others, and maybe, dreams that you held in your hearts, dreams you weren’t ready or brave enough to share. ... Living Penn State’s values of integrity, respect, responsibility, discovery, excellence and community throughout your time here, you grew into the graduates you are today.”

Shiline Varpilah, who graduated with a bachelor of science in business, provided welcoming remarks. She was a resident assistant and co-president of Scripture Seekers.

“One of the biggest lessons of my time here is that growth doesn’t always look dramatic,” she said. “Sometimes it looks like saying ‘yes’ to something you would have once said ‘no’ to. Sometimes it looks like learning to trust yourself more. And sometimes it looks like realizing that the hard seasons, the uncertain seasons and even the uncomfortable seasons are all part of the process.”

Two other graduating students served as commencement speakers: Catherine Adewumi and Ava Clements.

Adewumi earned a bachelor of science in psychology. After moving to the United States from Nigeria as a teenager, she earned an associate degree in psychology at Delaware County Community College before enrolling at Penn State Brandywine.

“My time at Brandywine has been unique because of my non-traditional path, but I deeply appreciate the intimate campus feel and the meaningful relationships I built with professors and peers,” she said. “These last two years have been transformative and hold a very special place in my heart. ... When in doubt, remember that the skills, conversations, ideas, relationships and perspectives gained through each classroom and outside‑of‑classroom interaction do not disappear. They form a personalized kind of power, one that we alone have the ability to harness to our advantage.”

Clements earned a bachelor of arts in communications. She was a Cooper Honors scholar, a contributor to the Lion’s Eye student newspaper, a member of the Academic Integrity Board and a student employee in the campus strategic communications department.

“For me, Brandywine became more than just a place to earn a degree. It became a place where I found my voice,” she said. “A place where opportunities pushed me to grow, sometimes a little outside my comfort zone — and sometimes way outside of it. Somewhere along the way, this campus that once felt unfamiliar became a place I’m genuinely proud to call home. ... That’s what this place gave me, not just an education, but confidence. The kind that helps you take chances even when it’s scary, and go after things you once thought were out of reach.”

After the commencement addresses, Wells and Chief Academic Officer Jennifer Nesbitt conferred the degrees. Nesbitt also recognized graduates who earned academic distinction for graduating in the top 12% of their class within their respective colleges.

• Magna cum laude: Catherine Adewumi, Ian Sheng Lim, Emily McDermott, Ivan Morhun and Jonathan Parsons
• Cum laude: Ava Clements, Susanna Immanuel, Eve Koutsenko, Lexie McCullough, Udhay Prakash Mohankumar and Hideki Shie

Shirley Yang, who graduated with a bachelor of science in biology, was recognized as a Schreyer Honors Scholar, while Clements was noted as a Cooper Honors Scholar.

Joseph Kernen, president of the Penn State Brandywine Advisory Board, offered greetings and congratulations to the graduates.

Jemimah Mwaba, a 2021 Penn State graduate who attended Brandywine, performed the National Anthem and the Penn State Alma Mater.

Penn State Brandywine, with more than 1,100 students, is a residential campus offering 14 baccalaureate programs and the first two years of nearly all of Penn State’s more than 275 majors.