In photos: Sheridan’s Class of 2025 spring valedictorians

From June2-5, the Sheridan community celebrated more than 10,000 business, arts, community studies, applied health, humanities, and science and technology graduates during 13 spring convocation ceremonies. Each ceremony featured a valedictory address by a student from that Faculty who had the chance to speak to their classmates, family, friends and those who supported them along the way, and share words of inspiration.

These are the 14 valedictorians who were chosen to represent their Faculty at their convocation ceremony. Read on to learn what made these students stand out and what was unlocked during their time at Sheridan, alongside excerpts from their valedictory address.

We welcome these valedictorians and their classmates to our ever-growing alumni community of over 235,000 Bruins.

Unlocked Purpose: Mannat

Mannat graduated from the Office Administration – Health Services program in the Pilon School of Business. Despite the challenges of navigating life abroad and balancing work, volunteering and student life, she showed resilience, independence and academic excellence. “Our time at Sheridan was about more than classes and assignments: it was about becoming,” Mannat said. Along the way, she discovered that Sheridan became a place to call home – where she and her classmates learned what it meant to lead, grow and belong. “It gave us more than just an education – it gave us purpose.” Mannat’s contributions to campus life were recognized with a Sheridan Student Union (SSU) award and the prestigious Bruno Team Leadership Award.

Unlocked Future: Rana El Ayoubi

Rana El Ayoubi graduated from the English Language Studies (ESL) Certificate program, General Arts and Science in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. She pursued her studies at Sheridan as an opportunity to start over and build a new life. Her greatest challenge was learning to balance the care of her four children with the need to give her full attention to her education. She also faced the fear of starting over again after years away from studying. “Was it tough? Yes!” Rana said. “Was it worth it? Absolutely!” She now feels prepared for higher studies and for the journey of building a future in a new country. Her program “had everything we needed. It helped us strengthen our skills and gave us the tools to communicate more confidently, collaborate with others and adapt to a new environment.”

Unlocked Curiosity: Tishika Soni

Tishika Soni graduated from the Advertising and Marketing Communications Management program in the Pilon School of Business. She immersed herself fully in the student experience, participating in extracurricular activities which supported her peers and the campus community. She was a course tutor and a First Year Experience Initiatives facilitator, and she guided fellow students by facilitating workshops or providing academic support. “We started this journey with curiosity and while it was nerve wracking at first, look at us now – we are standing here as proud and confident graduates,” she said. “Somewhere in between, we learned more than just our courses. Sheridan taught us how to communicate effectively, advocate for our peers and be passionate about our goals, no matter how small.”

Unlocked Courage: Mehreen Musharafa

Mehreen Musharafa graduated from the Business Analysis and Process Management program in the Pilon School of Business. Her Sheridan journey reflects a deep belief in community, collaboration and kindness, and she often supported her peers as they navigated challenges – providing guidance, sharing resources and taking on additional responsibilities for collective success. Mehreen credited her parents for being the foundation of who she is today – helping her develop resilience, drive, integrity and empathy. Despite feeling overwhelmed as she balanced school work with her job, she reflected that her time at Sheridan“ taught me that growth doesn’t always feel like progress...but through that chaos, I discovered what I was made of. "She closed her speech with a reminder to lead with courage, not just credentials. “Let’s walk into rooms knowing we belong – not because of what’s on our resume, but because of the strength, resilience and courage we showed when no one was watching.”

Unlocked Belonging: Rochell Samuels

Rochell Samuels graduated from the International Business Management program in the Pilon School of Business. She walked through the doors of Sheridan looking for belonging, and she found it in the PSB community. Rochell made it her mission to leave every space brighter than she found it. She discovered that success isn’t just about grades – it's about grit, growth and giving back. “Sheridan didn’t just give us answers; it gave us wings to explore, create and soar beyond what we thought possible.” She acknowledged the importance of the entire community who helped her and her classmates get to this moment of graduation, and encouragedher classmates: “Now let’s go out there and unlock our future, like only Sheridan Bruins can.”

Unlocked Comfort Zone: Cat Nguyen

Cat Nguyen graduated from the Business – Finance program in the Pilon School of Business. She experienced personal growth and the challenge of stepping beyond her comfort zone at Sheridan, and her speech inspired others to do the same. “I stopped seeing success as just getting high marks,” Cat said. “I knew that life would not change if I always chose to stay stuck in my safe zone, so I started saying yes to new things.” Initially introverted and focused only on academics, she went on to discover the value of engaging with student life. “That’s also what I’ve learned most here at Sheridan: growth happens when you try – whether you’re good at it or not. We’ve all had different paths, but we’ve shared the experience of learning, adapting, and showing up anyway.”

Unlocked Compassion: Jesse Plews

Jesse Plews graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences – Kinesiology and Health Promotion from the Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies. A natural community builder, Jesse went above and beyond to foster a sense of connection and support among his peers and played a vital role in creating an environment where others felt seen, heard and valued – further demonstrated by him being awarded the Rayan Kaber Memorial Award, which commemorates a former Sheridan kinesiology student. Jesse’s father passed away during his time at Sheridan and Jesse had to learn how hard it was to live without him. “Through that grief, I learned something powerful: that pain and gratitude can live in the same place,” Jesse said. “That even when we lose someone we love, their impact doesn’t disappear.” Jesse reminds us not to wait to make our lives meaningful. “Because the world needs you. Not just your degree or your GPA. It needs your passion, your compassion, your heart. Let’s be the kind of people who show up for others. Let’s be the kind of people who keep going — not because it’s easy, but because it matters.”

Unlocked Involvement: Josh Colliopoulos

Josh Colliopoulos graduated with a Police Foundations diploma from the Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies. He came to Sheridan in search of experiential learning opportunities and became actively engaged in extracurricular activities, volunteering for charity events, recruitment activities and park clean-ups. “Tomorrow, we start a new phase in our lives – a new chapter to our own personal journey that will unfold with a fresh new page, but one that only we hold the pen to,” Josh said. “A new chapter where we get to put the skills we’ve learned, the knowledge we’ve gained and the deep experiences we’ve shared with new friends and faculty at Sheridan into motion, as we pursue our passions and careers.” Josh’s next step is his role as a cadet with the Halton Regional Police.

Unlocked Lifelong Learning: Jennifer Logan

Jennifer Logan graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership from the Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies. She is a proud Registered Early Childhood Educator with 28 years of experience in the early learning and care profession. Jennifer previously received a diploma from Sheridan, and was excited to return for her degree. She embraces lifelong learning, values the perspectives of others and fosters collaborative relationships that promote growth and reflection. Jennifer is guided by unbuntu, which translates to I am because we are. “Ubuntu reminds us of our shared humanity and the fact that we become stronger when we uplift one another,” Jennifer said. “Ubuntu captures the spirit of our time here at Sheridan."

Unlocked Creative Potential: Kat Quirk

Kat Quirk graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Film and Television from the Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design. She was the recipient of the Sheridan Student Union award for Most Outstanding Graduate in BFTV and the Annex Pro Award for Academic Achievement in Editing. In addition to her academic achievements, Kat demonstrated a strong commitment to community service by serving as the President of the SSU club SWIFT (Sheridan Women in Film and Television). “At Sheridan, we saw what we could do when we used our full potential to create,” Kat said. “We have evolved from telling stories around fires in caves, into turning our stories and our passions into a viable career.” Kat believes that grit and creative perseverance will help her classmates succeed wherever they find themselves.

Unlocked Resilience: Rubiat Fusigboye

Rubiat Fusigboye graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Interaction Design from the Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design. From addressing personal creative challenges to becoming an influential voice in the design industry, Rubiat demonstrated leadership and innovation. Her journey from struggling with creative burnout to developing innovative solutions that help others shows empathy, resilience and leadership. “Remember that taking breaks isn't a sign of weakness – it's necessary,” Rubiat said. “Be as kind to yourself as you would be to a friend. Rest when you need to, celebrate small victories, and recognize that self-compassion is just as important as persistence.” Rubiat reminded her classmates that when they go out into the world and see challenges that feel impossible – to try anyway.

Unlocked Feeling of Home: Paras Sharma

Paras Sharma graduated with a Computer Systems Technician – Information Technology Infrastructure and Services diploma from the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology. As a student ambassador, he represented Sheridan at numerous events and enjoyed supporting new students by sharing knowledge and offering campus tours. He was an enthusiastic ambassador at convocations and was honoured to have the opportunity to represent his class as valedictorian. As an international student, he found a home away from home at Sheridan. “Like many people, leaving my home country of India and coming to Canada was a very tough decision,” Paras said. “But I settled into this beautiful country, I made new friends who are now like family, I experienced new things, and I received an outstanding education.”

Unlocked Success: Alberto Francisco Schramm De Avila

Alberto Francisco Schramm De Avila graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) from the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology. Originally from Brazil, he embraced the challenge of moving to a new country to pursue his dream program at an outstanding college. “When I first came to Sheridan, I was by myself, filled with the fear that comes with moving to a new country. However, since my first class, I have been welcomed by both my peers and faculty. Being in an environment where everyone wants you to succeed was incredible.” Yes, challenges will come. But we must remember that we have already proven that we can overcome them.

Unlocked Joy of Learning: Chulyoung Hur

Chulyoung Hur graduated with a Plumbing Technician diploma from the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology. Chulyoung stood out as a team player with a friendly disposition, a smile that resonated throughout the classroom and department, and a positive attitude. His academic success was highlighted by his first-place win in the plumbing category of this year’s Sheridan Skills competition. “Coming to a new country from Korea, facing language barriers, and learning completely new skills wasn't easy,” Chulyoung said, “but through those challenges, I rediscovered something truly valuable: the joy of learning.” His Sheridan experience reminded him that learning is not just about passing exams. “It's about growing, overcoming and finding purpose in what we do. It became a pleasant and meaningful challenge that I will always treasure.”

Sheridan alumni have access to exclusive events, discounts and benefits. Stay in touch and join more than 235,000 graduates in celebrating their Sheridan pride.