The Honors College offers students graduating with the University Honors and/or Departmental Honors an Honors-specific graduation ceremony at the end each Winter semester. Graduates are invited to celebrate their unique accomplishments with fellow Honors graduates, faculty, and staff. Honors festivities are in addition to university hosted commencement events.

The Honors celebration includes student speakers, the Honors Dean's address, and a march of graduates. Typically, the Honors event take place a few days before the larger University Commencement.

Students graduating in Fall, Spring/Summer, or Winter receive a complimentary gold collar to wear as regalia to graduation ceremonies. Honors recently began offering complimentary professional Headshots to graduates, as well. Once degrees are formally conferred, graduates are also provided an Honors certificate to add to their portfolios.

Semester specific information is provided to University and/or Departmental Honors students who have applied for graduation. 

Honors May 2024 Commencement Speakers

NIA JONES became a member of Wayne State University’s Irvin D. Reid Honors College in Fall 2021, stepping into her sophomore year with a zeal for making the most of her undergraduate journey. Throughout her academic career, Nia has consistently sought out and seized opportunities to enrich her experience. She’s forged connections with mentors, immersed herself in the city of Detroit, and been a champion for WSU peers.

Nia is currently in the final stretch of her Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science Honors degree with a Minor in Global Studies. Simultaneously, Nia has embarked on her Juris Doctorate, Law School, program. As a result of Nia’s consistent academic excellence, in Fall 2023, Nia was accepted to a selective admission program, LawStart, to fast-track her journey to becoming an attorney.

Nia’s commitment reaches beyond the classroom. She has assumed mentorship roles in various student organizations. She has lent her expertise as a Summer Assistant for Wayne State Housing, guided and celebrated mentees in their growth in her role as a Success Parter in Warrior360, and held the position of treasurer for Model United Nations. Further, Nia contributed beyond campus through the Detroit Fellows Tutoring Project in Winter 2022, wherein she worked one-on-one with Detroit Public School elementary students to bolster their reading skills. Nia also pioneered the Honors College's inaugural Live-In Peer Mentor position. In this role, she guides first-year Honors students. Nia is passionate about advocating for and assisting new generations of students, prizing the opportunity to support motivated and ambitious peers as they navigate and adjust to university life.

Despite her transition, Nia remains committed to the Honors College as a Live-In Peer Mentor and Senior Assistant for Warrior 360, embodying dedication, and leadership in both academic and extracurricular pursuits. Nia maintains an active presence in several clubs and associations, including serving as the Social Chair for both The Wayne Law Mental Health Association and The Black Law Student Association. As Nia continues her path forward, she intends to deepen her roots in Detroit and is primed for future professional opportunities in non-profits or a Detroit-based firm.

MAX O’ROURKE joined the Honors College as he began his academic journey in 2020 studying Finance Honors and University Honors. Max leveraged the Honors College curriculum to delve deeper into his coursework. This included analysis of the COVID-19 vaccine supply chain, financial analysis of the fitness industry, and a thesis on the impact of artificial intelligence on behavioral finance and risk management in the banking sector. Outside of the classroom, Max is a member of the nationally ranked WSU Men's Golf team. When not studying or golfing (not very often), Max contributed greatly as the President of the Financial Management Association at the Mike Ilitch School of Business. As President for 1.5 years, Max exposed members to the financial world through career mentorship, speaker events, partnerships with the Detroit Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) Chapter and the Detroit Economic Club, and community involvement with the Investments Professionals for Charity. Reflecting his passion for academia, community, and industry, Max was honored in 2023 with the prestigious Mike Ilitch School of Business 25 under 25 distinction. In the "real world", Max collaborated with the financial community across various industries including asset management, real estate, private equity, and financial technology advisory: Max begins his career as a financial technology analyst in the summer of 2024. In the near future, you can find Max traveling, golfing, spending time in nature, enjoying company of friends and family, or a combination of all four!

ZORIANA “Zori” MARTINEZ has always had a passion for using her voice as a vessel for others. Currently on the verge of completing a BS in Criminal Justice Honors and a BA in African American Studies, Zori is passionate about living a life of service dedicated to healing the world with revolutionary love. Growing up, Zori trained in traditional vocal pedagogy, cultivating skills in classical music and opera in several languages, while enriching her community with vibrant performances in musical theater and traditional African American spirituals.

During her tenure at WSU, she has devoted her time outside of class restorative and healing justice, uplifting the larger Detroit community. In 2021, Zori contributed as a research assistant for the WSU Law School: Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights, collaborating with esteemed African American Studies Professor Dr. David Goldberg, reviewing and analyzing self-reported use of force data from the Detroit Police Department.

Her commitment to social progress extended further as Zori interned for the 2021 municipal City Clerk campaign for Michigan progressive Denzel McCampbell. In 2022, she was the sole undergraduate intern for the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice, assisting on the (now codified) Detroit Right to Counsel ordinance. Following her internship, Zori served as Volunteer Coordinator for The People’s Action, a Detroit nonprofit.

In 2023, Zori was recruited and served as the Community Organizer for the Wisdom Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting the lives of Black women and girls in the city through interfaith connection and healing justice principles. Last Summer, Zori was selected amongst 12 distinguished students of color for the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship. Through this, Zori studied peaceful reconciliation tactics and global social justice movements in Washington D.C., South Africa, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. Zori celebrates the Honors College as being instrumental to her life path. Upon graduation.

Honors May 2023 Commmencement Speakers

Malack Jallad is an undergraduate student at Wayne State University, double majoring in Neuroscience and Public Health Honors. As part of Wayne State, she is a member of the Irvin D. Reid. Honors College, where she was involved in the Applebaum Emerging Leaders Program. She is also involved in multiple school organizations on campus, most notably the Creative Writing Club, of which she is the founder and President. To her, writing is an art, an outlet and a voice and therefore she has always had a passion for it. Recently, she published her poetry in an anthology called "The Shape of Home," which shares stories and poems written by Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) writers. Much of her work, whether in writing or in academia, is thus focused on the MENA experience and representation, specifically Arab American representation in writing, literature, and research. She is currently doing research on the lack of MENA representation in genetic-wide association studies (GWAS) studies and further issues exacerbated by the lack of MENA representation (ethnic/racial category) in the United States Census, such as the prevalence of substance use disorders within this community and related stigma. As such, she served as an Overdose Rescue Trainer with the Americorps Community Training (ACT) for overdose rescue program at the Wayne State Center for Urban Studies to raise awareness about opioid use disorders by holding overdose rescue trainings and distributing Narcan in the tri-county/ Detroit area. She also currently works as a content assistant for The Michigan Overdose Data to Action (MODA) program, also at the WSU Center for Urban Studies, where she researches and shares information and resources on the MODA Community website to support efforts in addressing the opioid epidemic in the state of Michigan. She is also currently conducting research on Traumatic Brain Injury at the Wayne State School of Medicine. Malack ultimately aspires to pursue a career in Medicine, one that intertwines with Public Health. After she completes her undergraduate studies, she wants to continue her education, as well as conduct further research, and engage in more volunteer work and activism. Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Malack enjoys journaling, nature walks, trying new food places and spending time with family and friends!

Elio Zhilla joined the Honors College in 2021. He initially started his college career at Macomb Community College in 2020 and then transferred to Wayne State University in the Winter of 2021. Elio completed an Associate of Arts from Macomb Community College before completing a Bachelor's in Liberal Arts & Sciences from Wayne State University. Elio works at DirectRX as a Patient Education and Adherence Call Specialist and Patient Records Specialist. Elio is pursuing a Juris Doctor degree and applying to various law schools. He is determined and strives to help the people in his community from the injustices they face daily.