AIC Celebrates Class of 2026 at 141st Commencement Ceremony

Commencement exercises at American International College honor undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students; feature keynote by Paralympian alumna Femita Ayanbeku Bradley ’14 and alumni address by Devonte Dillion ’17, MBA ’19.

The 141st Commencement Ceremony of American International College was held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, Mass., honoring undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral recipients in the Class of 2026.

The ceremony featured a keynote address by Femita Ayanbeku Bradley ’14, a world-class Paralympian, advocate, nonprofit founder, and AIC alumna. Bradley also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in recognition of her achievements as an elite athlete and advocate for individuals with disabilities.

Devonte Dillion ’17, MBA ’19, CEO and co-founder of Dilligence Training and vice president and co-founder of DT Cares, delivered the alumni address, welcoming graduates into the AIC alumni community and marking their transition into the next stage of their academic and professional journeys.

In her keynote address, Bradley reflected on her experience as an AIC student and the foundation it provided for her career as a Paralympian and advocate.

“Standing here today in front of you all feels surreal, because I remember sitting exactly where you are,” she said. “I remember I was full of ambition, full of uncertainty, full of pressure, but best of all I was full of possibility.”

A three-time Paralympian and the fastest female amputee in the United States, Bradley emphasized the importance of resilience and discipline developed during college and carried into life after graduation.

“We often celebrate graduation like it’s the finish line, but the truth is, it’s only the starting point,” she said. “The real success of college is not simply getting your degree; it’s the things you do after you get your degree.”

She encouraged graduates to focus on their own paths rather than comparisons with others.

“Your life is not a race against the person sitting next to you,” Bradley said. “Some of you will move fast. Some of you will take a little more time, and some of you will change directions completely. Whatever your path is, you are not behind.”

Bradley also underscored the long-term value of a college degree and the skills developed at AIC.

“No matter what you majored in, completing a degree shows critical thinking, problem-solving, time management, accountability, adaptability, and self-discipline,” she said.

She closed her remarks with a message of encouragement for the Class of 2026.

“As we leave here today, remember this: your degree is just a piece of paper, but what it signifies is so much more,” Bradley said. “It is proof that you showed up, you pushed through, and you refused to quit when things got hard.”

“To the Class of 2026,” she concluded, “the world is not going to wait for you to be ready; it is waiting for you to be brave enough to chase your dreams.”

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