UIC Celebrated its First Class of MBA Graduates

Written by Dr. Marcela Moyano

United International College celebrated its XXI Commencement Ceremony on Friday, June 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the historic Savor Cinema, 503 SE 6th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. The graduating class of 2023 represented the very first 5 students graduating from the Master of Business Administration MBA program, 11 students earning a bachelor degree and 5 students graduating from associate degrees. Nationalities represented by the students were Venezuela, Russia, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Pakistan, Ecuador and Vietnam. 

Academic Director of United International College, Angelica Moyano, welcomed graduates, families and friends to the XXI Commencement Ceremony of United International College.

Lydia Bautista Moller, co-founder and president of United International College addressed the graduating class and reminded them about the urgency of their leadership in a world currently facing a fast technological upheaval and climate challenges. 

Dr. Marcela Moyano welcomed Mr. Gagan Bajaj, an Oracle Certified Instructor responsible for organizing and delivering training sessions. 

Commencement speaker Gagan Bajaj shared with the graduates his own journey as an international student in the United States. Gagan is the son of a diplomat father from India who lived his childhood in multiple nations before he came to the United States to achieve the American dream of earning  his higher education, becoming a US citizen and raising a family in the United States of America. 

“It’s easy to be consumed by the pursuit of material wealth and professional success, but true fulfillment comes from living a life of purpose, compassion, and authenticity. Remember to nurture your relationships, to cherish moments of joy, and to make time for the things that bring you genuine happiness” advised Gagan to the graduates.

UIC was honored to have had Mariela Herrera, a Summa Cum Laude Business Student, as the Commencement Speaker representing the graduates. She took this opportunity as a challenge to seek within herself and find her inner strength and freedom. She urged her fellow classmates to welcome their new journey as UIC graduates and was grateful for the education earned at UIC. 

She concluded her speech by telling the graduates “Many of us are individuals who left behind everything we knew to seek new opportunities on this land looking for a dream. Today is the day we start dreaming again. Even though it is the end of a journey, it is the commencement of another. So, dream again now, but now, with a new tool in your pocket and tons of wonderful experiences and new friends and colleagues.”

Congratulations to the first five UIC students who earned the MBA degree from United International College last Friday, June 23rd. Angelica Moyano, academic director of UIC, told the graduating class: “you are the first class of UIC’s MBA program. Thank you for believing in us when we were just starting the program.” Sandra Valentin, Muhammad Azmat, Coc Le, Luis Loha, and Asad Khan now belong to the 14.4% of people in the United States with a Master, Doctorate or Professional Degree.

The Commencement Ceremony is always a day to commemorate the hard work of UIC students and their completion of a major life achievement. UIC enjoys celebrating with families and friends and makes sure that graduates know that their alma mater is always ready to welcome them back home. Go Rays!