Celebrating Spring 2025 Graduates at UIC

Graduation marks the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and personal growth. It is a time for celebration, reflection, and anticipation for the future. For many, it is a moment to acknowledge achievements, honor the support of family and friends, and look forward to new opportunities.

At UIC, each ceremony showcases the resilience and determination of our students. Students have navigated academic challenges while contributing to the vibrant campus community. Spring graduates have excelled academically, engaged in meaningful extracurricular activities, built lasting friendships, and explored the dynamic city of Chicago.

Graduating students were encouraged to share their best memories from their time at UIC and what they will miss about being at UIC. Here’s what they shared:

Undergraduate
Samantha Bravo - Integrated Health Studies, Public Health and Nutrition minor
Samantha fondly recalls being part of the onstart of two new clubs at UIC: Mujeres En Medicina and Sabor Latino Dance Club (Follow on IG). Through joining student organizations, she enjoyed meeting people with similar educational and personal goals and will miss the diverse population and active student body.

Gizelle Ricci Bautista - Marketing, Leadership minor
Gizelle cherishes the simple but meaningful moments spent exploring the city and connecting with friends. Growing up in the suburbs, she didn’t always have the chance to explore, but being in Chicago during college gave her the freedom to have fun and make the most of her time. On campus, she loved being part of a supportive team at UIC’s Creative and Digital Services and representing UIClife, both in-person and online. She will miss the community and the small moments of connection and adventure.

Ananya Handa - Molecular, Cellular and Organismal Biology,  minor in Nutrition, Medical Humanities certificate
Ananya is proud of starting the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC) Chapter at UIC. She says, “Seeing it grow into a full-fledged organization that connects students with meaningful volunteer opportunities in global and community health has been incredibly rewarding. Huge shout out to my amazing executive board for making this a success!” Ananya will miss exploring Chicago’s coffee shops and the ease of finding study spots.

Yaksh Patel - Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering minor
Yaksh was actively involved in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Indian Student Association. His experiences with student organizations enriched his time at UIC.

Arman Raghian - Biomedical Engineering major
Armans best memories were being a CampFire Counselor through Student Leadership and Civic Engagement (Follow on IG). This rewarding experience allowed him to grow as a leader while welcoming the next class of students to campus. He’ll miss the deep sense of belonging and support from advisors and student organizations.

Hailey Roman - Psychology and Pre-Med
Hailey loved developing her research skills at UIC and will miss the psychology professors and mentors, who were incredibly helpful throughout her journey.

Zee Muhammad - Neuroscience major, Nutrition minor
Zee’s favorite memory was when she bonded with her organic chemistry teacher and decided to wear matching outfits to class one day. These simple acts of kindness and compassion helped her through a tough semester. Zee appreciated the endless opportunities at UIC, including being president of three organizations, having on-campus jobs, and conducting research. She highlights, “There’s so much room for personal and professional growth!”

Juliet Riddle - Marketing,  Business Analytics minor
Juliet has many favorite memories related to a UIC Sports Club, CHAARG. She will miss her friends as they all follow their future paths away from UIC.

Juliana Moro - Mechanical Engineering
Juliana is proud of reviving the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) in the city and hosting members at the SWE headquarters. She loved hearing about the journeys of fellow professors and spending time with wonderful people in the Equity and Inclusion in Engineering Program (EIEP).

Andre Childs - Theatre and Performance
Andrew’s best memory is performing his first show at UIC and meeting many great artistic people. He will miss the friends he made and the fun college experience.

Qasim Rizvi - Mechanical Engineering
Qasim enjoyed going on random adventures with friends and living in the best city in the world. Like most UIC students, he will miss the vibrant life in Chicago.

Graduate
Mohammed Ansar Baig - Construction Engineering
Mohammed loved feeling the campus buzz on the first day of school and walking through campus in the fall. The little moments like walking across campus with the city in the background and chilling on the Quad between classes is what he’ll miss most.

Iván Garay - Finance
Iván treasures the opportunities to study abroad (Follow on IG)  twice! He particularly enjoyed the community, friendships, and various activities, including sports, projects, and events available on-campus.

Doctoral
Helen Rottier - Disability Studies
Helen valued the virtual engagement opportunities UIC created in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. These activities allowed her to connect with other students creatively while studying from a distance. Helen now has a job in Wisconsin, and will miss the vibrant city of Chicago and its close-knit campus.

Bonus: Check out some top picks for taking graduation photos on campus from UIClife.

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UIC has been a place for students to challenge themselves academically and personally. The university offers diverse programs and opportunities for growth, from research projects to student organizations, creating a supportive environment for exploring interests and making connections. This strong sense of community is why graduates look back fondly on their time here.

Congratulations to all the Spring 2025 graduates! The time at UIC has been filled with memorable experiences and achievements. As students move forward, remember the lessons learned and friendships made. Don’t forget to stay connected through UIClife, and best wishes for future endeavors!