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It was a perfect May weekend to celebrate JWU Providence’s 2024 Commencement. 1,826 degrees were awarded in total — 1,438 undergraduate, 349 graduate and 39 doctoral degrees. Noting that May 4 coincides with Rhode Island Independence Day, Providence Campus President Marie Bernardo-Sousa, LP.D. '92 praised the “resilience and unwavering perseverance” of the Class of 2024, adding: “You have helped define Johnson & Wales as a university that is truly inclusive for all members of our community. … Collectively, you embody the four tenets of the Wildcat Way – pride, courage, character and community. Together, you will make the world a better place.”

Both of Saturday’s Commencement ceremonies — Graduate Studies in the morning, and undergraduate degrees in the afternoon — echoed that theme of optimism. Each speaker examined the idea of legacy: How do we become our best selves? What does it take to become architects of change? Here are some of the most resounding quotes from the four speakers.

Graduate Studies Student Speaker: Mahalia Francis '21, '24 MBA

Mahalia Francis earned her bachelor’s degree in Dietetics and Applied Nutrition in 2021, then pursued her MBA. Beaming proudly from the podium, she recalled a much different self that arrived on campus in 2016: “I remember coming to JWU as a 19-year-old young lady from Jamaica, unsure of what the future would hold, unsure of the connections I would make, and unsure whether or not I would even make it to the end!”

“JWU offered me the opportunity of a lifetime and provided me with a chance to discover the greatness that lies within me.”

But she did. Along the way, she discovered a community of supporters and cheerleaders, from faculty mentors to student peers: “As an international student, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn, grow, and develop freely, without judgment and without fear.”

Now, with multiple degrees to her name, she shared how being at JWU helped her gain the confidence and maturity to forge her own path: “JWU offered me the opportunity of a lifetime and provided me with a chance to discover the greatness that lies within me.”

Graduate Studies Keynote: Dale Jean Venturini '24 Hon.

Dale Jean Venturini spent much of her long career in hospitality as the CEO and president of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, where she worked tirelessly to make the Ocean State a travel and tourism destination. She explained that the following quote had enriched her path: “The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”

She challenged the Class of 2024 to make a difference — not for the glory of accolades, but because “it is the right thing to do,” she explained. “Life is not just about personal achievements, but about the legacy we leave behind.” Seeds of kindness, she noted, “have the power to blossom into something extraordinary.”

Undergraduate Student Speaker: Kristina Veszeleiova '24

Born and raised in Slovakia, Kristina is a first-generation college student graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and minors in Nutrition and Criminal Justice. A longtime volunteer for Wildcat Food Rescue, she also served on the President’s Advisory Council and the John Hazen White College of Arts & Sciences Leadership Team.

Kristina’s speech was framed as a letter from the Class of 2024 to their younger selves: “We write you this letter to share some good news: you can live the life you dream of — and you will. We know you all want to live a life, powered by purpose, where every day is a new opportunity to improve and grow. Guess what? You will experience this at JWU.”

The other crucial lesson? Learning to trust your instincts, even if that means the occasional stumble along your chosen path. “Life is not a one-way road. You can mess up — a lot — and you will continue messing up, but you are just going to have to embrace it and learn from the process. You have to be strong enough to look uncertainty in [the eye] and tell it to back off.”

She continued: “Be kind enough to listen and accept what other people have to say, but remember never to lose yourself and always do what feels right for you. Find something you are passionate about, work hard and go for it!”

“Life isn’t easy, nothing is guaranteed, and the obstacles in the path are the path. And that’s ok. Because our growth comes when we are challenged.”

Undergraduate Keynote: Dorothea Bongiovi '24 Hon.

As a junior high school karate champion, Dorothea Bongiovi learned the value of hard work and tenacity. Today, she oversees four locations of — two on college campuses — that use “paying it forward” to tackle food insecurity. Regardless of their ability to pay, everyone receives the same delicious, chef-created food at Soul Kitchen. Everyone dines with dignity.

Bongiovi had her “a-ha” moment about starting Soul Kitchen when she read about a café in Denver, Colorado, that ran on a pay-what-you-can model: “I became highly focused on creating a beautiful restaurant where people could come together in a gorgeous setting and eat a healthy, delicious meal, regardless of their socioeconomic status.”

She and her husband, musician Jon Bon Jovi, had already been heavily involved in building affordable housing through their foundation. Since 2005, they have partnered to build nearly 1000 units of affordable housing supporting youth, veterans, and people living with HIV/AIDS. “So we are not strangers to the issues of generational poverty, homelessness or hunger,” Bongiovi told the crowd.

Running Soul Kitchen taught Bongiovi that there wasn’t just one thing keeping people from food security. “At Soul Kitchen, many of our guests work, but they can’t make ends meet. Some are seniors who have to choose between medicine and food. Some are single parents; some are vets who are experiencing mental health challenges. Like most folks, they are good people with unexpected difficulties along their journey.”

Life’s challenges happen when we least expect them. One of the major lessons Bongiovi has taken from running Soul Kitchen is that the rewards come from pushing yourself to do things you didn’t think possible. “Life isn’t easy, nothing is guaranteed, and the obstacles in the path are the path. And that’s ok. It’s actually better than ok. Because our growth comes when we are challenged.”

She continued: “One of my favorite sayings is, ‘It will be ok in the end and if it isn’t ok, it isn’t the end.’ Which basically means: One foot in front of the other until you are satisfied with the outcome. And when you’re satisfied, good for you! Now find something else to challenge you.”

2024 Commencement Stats

• Undergraduate Degrees Awarded: 1,438
• Graduate Degrees Awarded: 349
• Doctoral Degrees Awarded: 39
• Countries Represented: 27

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