For the first time, Washington State University Vancouver’s commencement address was livestreamed online, which worked out for Navaraj “Raj” Lamichhane.
Lamichhane, who graduated from the business administration program with a professional sales certificate, earned the Chancellor’s Award for Student Achievement. After being orphaned at a young age, Lamichhane was separated from his siblings and grew up in a children’s home in Nepal. He completed high school and two years of college in Nepal, where he met Beverly Questad, an English teacher from Vancouver who was there volunteering.
She helped Lamichhane come to America to continue his education, and on Saturday while he accepted his award during commencement, friends of Lamichhane’s back in Nepal were watching live. Lamichhane addressed his friends and family watching back in Nepal, especially those watching from Bright Horizon Children’s Home School, where he grew up for 12 years. The time in Matatirtha, Nepal, where the home is located, is 12 hours and 45 minutes ahead of Vancouver, making it a little later than 2 a.m. in Nepal when Lamichhane received his award.
“You are my family,” he said. “I made it here. This has been a very successful journey, so thank you very much. You are my family, my inspiration.”
Lamichhane hopes to use his degree to work in the renewable energy field and improve the quality of life in his home country.
Associated Students of WSU Vancouver President Jose Scott gave the commencement address, and he similarly focused on inspiration, specifically how he and his fellow graduates can inspire future generations. He said that he couldn’t have imagined giving a college commencement address when he was younger, as the odds were stacked against him as a low-income first-generation black student. He said he knows plenty of his fellow graduates have similar stories and upbringings.
“Even in the face of adversity and systemic barriers, many of us achieved what our ancestors could only have dreamt of,” he said. “We have done our part in charting a path for those who are just like us. We have inspired the next generation to move forward, to continue to dream big dreams and to understand that anything is possible.”
Scott talked about campus activism, and how students “fought for diversity, social justice and inclusion” and built a wall of “unity and love.” He said his fellow classmates have grown as leaders, and quoted activist Grace Lee Boggs, who said, “We are the leaders we’ve been waiting for.”
He implored the 1,014 students graduating Saturday to go out and work to make the world a better place for both those who are coming after them, as well as those who came before.
“Whether you are graduating with your bachelor’s, master’s or (other) degree, please know that your accomplishments thus far have fundamentally changed the world in a positive way,” he said.
The graduating class honored Saturday included 865 bachelor’s candidates, 125 master’s candidates and 24 doctoral candidates.
Lamichhane was one of the graduates and staffers in attendance honored with an award. Others included:
