From studying abroad to attending events on campus, from lifelong friendships to life-changing internships, the CCAS Class of 2026 recalled their fondest GW memories.
Darianny Bautista
BA Political Science and Philosophy
“One of my most meaningful memories at GW comes from my time as a tour guide, getting to meet prospective and incoming students from all kinds of backgrounds. One moment that has stayed with me was when a low-income, first-generation student and her mother joined my tour during a particularly difficult time in their lives. As I shared my own journey living out my wildest dreams as a first-gen, low-income student at GW, they told me that hearing my story made them believe that she could belong here too. That moment meant everything to me. It reminded me that representation can open doors for others. I’m so grateful to GW for affording students like me the opportunity to receive an education and create pathways for others to do the same.”
Ethan Lynne
BA Political Communication
“Having been a tour guide, student and student body president, I ended up wearing a lot of hats over the past four years. The GW memory that sticks out to me the most was when the Monks Walk for Peace came to campus. I had the honor of presenting them with a collar on behalf of the student body for Aloka, their peace dog. Being in their presence, getting guided in meditation techniques and being mindful was much needed in the middle of midterms and re-emphasized how unique our campus is in D.C. Additionally, I will never forget being in D.C. thanks to admissions over the past few summers, and there’s no cooler place to watch the D.C. fireworks show than from the rooftop of 1959 E Street filled with good food, vibes, music and tons of other GW students. This was an unforgettable experience, and I wouldn’t have done it any other way.”
Justin Liu
BA Criminal Justice, Philosophy and Political Science Minors
“One of my favorite memories at GW was taking University Writing 1020 with Professor Carol Hayes during my first year. As a first-generation college student and immigrant, writing had always been my weakest area, and I came into the class unsure of myself. But Professor Hayes completely changed that. Her class, fittingly titled I’m a Bad Writer, created a space where I could learn without fear of being wrong. She taught me not just the technical aspects of writing, like citation and structure, but also how to think more critically and express my ideas with confidence. I never once considered skipping. It became something I genuinely looked forward to. Looking back, so much of my growth as a student can be traced back to that classroom.”
Olivia Nippe-Jeakins
BS Astronomy and Astrophysics
“It’s hard to pick a favorite memory, but it might be my very first astrophysics class I took here at GW. I was in Origins of the Cosmos with Dr. Alexander van der Horst (who is currently one of my research advisers!) my very first semester, so it served as my introduction to the GW Department of Physics—and to the department’s beloved SCALE-UP teaching method, which is far more problem-solving based than a traditional lecture! It was really cool to learn about a subject that I had always been passionate about. It really challenged me to consider how to communicate science and math concepts in a way that is both interesting and useful to my audience, a skill that has served me throughout my undergraduate career. I had been a bit uncertain about whether or not I should actually pursue a degree in physics upon entering college, but it was really this class (and my first introductory physics course taught by my now-other-research advisor, Dr. Axel Schmidt) that convinced me to give it a proper go. I feel very lucky to have had such wonderful professors and mentors here at GW, and I owe a lot of my success to my wonderful department.”
Margot Diamond
BA Journalism and Mass Communication
“One of my most memorable moments during my time at GW was attending Kamala Harris’s final campaign address during the 2024 presidential election. I had always been interested in media and politics from a distance, mostly through a screen, but it was incredibly energizing and inspiring to experience it in real time from within the crowd. SMPA also gave me one-of-a-kind experiences that I cherish, including the opportunity to hear directly from journalists and political leaders as they were actively covering and shaping that moment. That time helped fuel my future career interests in media and is something I will always associate with my time at GW and in D.C.”
Madeline Muir
BFA Interior Architecture
“Some of my favorite memories at GW were the times that I spent abroad studying art and design. In both my short-term trip to Barcelona to study human wellness in the built environment and my semester abroad in Florence, I was able to become fully immersed in the culture. Being able to learn about design in three beautiful cities—D.C., Barcelona and Florence—endlessly strengthened my education and experiences as I move forward with my career post-graduation.”