Meet the Student Speaker, Soloist and ASL Interpreter for Bucknell's 176th Commencement

For Jawaad "KJ" Benson '26, his time at Bucknell has simultaneously been about nurturing his independence while reinforcing the importance of having a strong support system. "What drew me to Bucknell is that it's a place where I was allowed to be an individual within a community," says Benson. "I was given the space and the resources I needed to figure things out on my own, but I was never afraid of being alone in the process."

A Bucknell Community College Scholar and first-generation student from Philadelphia, Benson has been motivated by a desire to build a strong sense of community across campus — for current and future students alike. 

Benson will contribute a parting message May 17 as the Class of 2026 student speaker at Bucknell's 176th Commencement.

Following an open audition process, Benson was selected by a committee of students, faculty and staff to address his fellow graduates.

"Bucknell was really the first where I was able to see my dream of becoming a doctor turn into a reality," says Benson, a biology major, who was driven to pursue the pre-med track after losing someone important in his life to cancer. "I got access to resources and people that showed me that version of the future — of me — was attainable. So being able to speak at Commencement is really a celebration not just of what Bucknell has done for me, but what it does for everyone."

Benson's speech will focus on appreciating the significance of life’s small moments and the central role that community plays in creating an expansive educational experience. 

"At Bucknell, we spend a lot of studying and preparing for class, but it's also outside of class that we get exposed to a different kind of education," says Benson, who served as a peer teaching assistant through the Center for Access & Success. "The peer part of that was really important because it was about creating a sense of belonging. I got to make sure that students weren't only doing well in a specific class, but also taking advantage of everything Bucknell has to offer."

Among his most impactful experiences, Benson counts his role in creating and facilitating a financial literacy event in partnership with Multicultural Student Services. "As someone from a lower socioeconomic community, it was important for me to be able to teach students about how to invest and how to understand their paycheck and taxes," says Benson. He was also an active member in Bucknell's Bandana Project, a mental health awareness initiative that trains students to act as mental health resources to their peers. "That allowed me to reach all types of students I never would have," says Benson.

As his own personal extracurricular, Benson is a motivational speaker and has developed a senior bucket list, created to encourage fellow seniors to experience everything campus has to offer before Commencement. "It's pretty much a list of the coolest things you can do as a student," he says. "I don't want people to look back on their time here and have regrets about the things they didn't do."

After graduating, Benson has his sights set on getting more clinical experience to prepare himself for applying to medical school. When it comes to taking the Commencement stage, he hopes to deliver an uplifting message to the community that has meant so much to him.

"I just want to positively represent the entire student body and celebrate the fact that we've all endured similar trials and tribulations to arrive at graduation," he says. 

Singing and Signing

For Bucknell's 176th Commencement, Katie Fitzgerald '26 (left) will serve as the ASL interpreter and Sinclair Stevens '26 will be the student soloist. Photo by James T. Giffen, Marketing & Communications

Sinclair Stevens '26, a biology major from Chester, N.J., will kick off Commencement with a rendition of the national anthem, and, for the first time in the ceremony's history, Katie Fitzgerald '26, a history major and dance minor from Mountain Top, Pa., will serve as the American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter.

A scientist at heart, Stevens was drawn to Bucknell's strong liberal arts tradition. "I was able to pursue science on a premed track while still keeping music as a part of my life," says Stevens, who minored in neuropsychology and sang as a member of the Bucknell University Choir for the last four years. "There were just so many windows of opportunity here, and I'm honored to represent the Class of 2026 as this year's Commencement Soloist."

When it came to auditioning for the role of soloist, Stevens was a little unsure about the idea of performing in front of such a large audience, but her fellow sorority members from Alpha Xi Delta encouraged her to take the leap. "They've always pushed me to be the best version of myself," she says.

Stevens' college journey has been all about pushing herself out of her comfort zone to discover new passions. She completed a semester-long study abroad program in Copenhagen and conducted research with Professor Matthew Heintzelman, biology. However, it was a volunteer opportunity that she heard about from Alison Patterson, a career coach in pre-health advising, that showed her a new way forward.  

"I came in knowing I was interested in science, thinking that research was really the path for me. In fact, the idea of interacting with patients was something that scared me," she says. "But I volunteered at a hospice facility for the past two years, and it was extremely rewarding. The experience shaped why I want to go into medicine now."

While Stevens will open the ceremony in song, Fitzgerald will be alongside, ensuring that the moment is accessible to all.

A lifelong Disney fan, Fitzgerald was first motivated to learn sign language after seeing videos of Disney World characters signing with deaf children. "It was incredibly moving, and I wanted to learn more," says Fitzgerald, who continued studying ASL at Bucknell. As a four-year member of the cheerleading team, Fitzgerald regularly signed the national anthem at home basketball and football games. "Being able to sign at Commencement feels like a perfect way to give back to the community and to honor my time at Bucknell."

After graduation, Stevens will work as a medical assistant to gain clinical experience before applying to medical school. Fitzgerald will be attending Widener Delaware Law School with a Dean's Select Merit Scholarship. 

Bucknell's 176th Commencement

This year's Commencement, celebrating the Class of 2026, is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 10 a.m. Tickets are not required for Commencement if held outside on Malesardi Quadrangle.

As in past years, the ceremonies will be livestreamed on Bucknell's Commencement webpage and Facebook page.