The annual celebration recognized graduating seniors and members of the Asian and Pacific Islander community through student performances, awards and reflections on belonging, identity and shared growth.
“We built a space where we can feel seen, supported and understood in ways that aren’t always easy to find elsewhere,” Reagan Wible ’26 said during her charge to students at the “Light the Way” celebration held on May 7.
Her remarks reflected the evening’s themes of belonging, connection and growth as students, faculty and staff gathered to honor graduating seniors who have engaged in or identify with Asian and Pacific Islander cultures and traditions.
“This community met me where I was, and I have you all to thank for helping me find my way into it,” said Wible.
Throughout the evening, the celebration included award recognitions, a stole ceremony and concluded with student performances. Awards presented during the celebration included the Beacon Award, Asian Studies Awards, Academic Excellence Awards, Illumination Award, Radiance Award, Outstanding Senior Award and student-voted superlatives recognizing members of the Asian and Pacific Islander community.
The stole ceremony served as one of the ceremony’s most symbolic moments, symbolizing connection to heritage, identity and community. Along with their stole, students received a booklet of cards from prominent individuals who helped light their way during their Elon journey.
Co-designed by Tiffany Huang ’23 and Alana Evora ’24, the stole featured flower petals as a motif representing the diversity and individuality within the Asian and Pacific Islander community.
The design also aligned with the 2026 Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month theme, “Distinctly in Bloom, Growing Together,” which resonated throughout the evening in the celebration’s remarks and intentional decor. Each table centerpiece highlighted a different flower representing various aspects of the Asian and Pacific Islander community. It also included mall booklet containing cards from people who have lit the way for their journey at Elon.
“Each flower represents the individuality and the uniqueness within our communities, whilst also reminding us of what ties all of us together,” said George Dou, assistant director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education.
Dou also spoke about the importance of community and shared growth.
“Each senior participating in our ceremony tonight has traced a unique path in the way that they have bloomed during their time here at Elon,” Dou said. “Growth, in many ways, cannot happen without a community.”
As the evening concluded, Wible reminded students that the spirit of community does not end with the night’s celebration, encouraging them to continue supporting and empowering each other beyond Elon.
“The light doesn’t go out when tonight ends — it goes with us into every room, every community and every person that needs to find their way in,” Wible said.
2026 Award Recipients
Beacon Award
The Beacon Awards are given to two faculty or staff members who have gone above and beyond to be a beacon of support to the API community at Elon University.
Beacon Award Recipients: Hillary Zaken, director of multifaith programming and engagement and Raj Ghoshal, associate professor of sociology
Illumination Award
The Illumination Award recognizes a student whose scholarship has shed light on the understanding of APISA identities, cultures, history or heritage.
Illumination Award Recipient: Emma Hash ’26
Radiance Award
The Radiance Award recognizes a sophomore or junior student who has shown great dedication, passion, or awareness around API identities or topics at Elon. This individual has gone above and beyond to create a more inclusive and representative campus for Elon as a whole.
Radiance Award Recipient: Emily Wright ’27
Brilliance Award
Formerly the Outstanding Senior Award, the Brilliance Award recognizes the leadership, dedication and the impact a graduating senior has made on the Asian and Pacific Islander community throughout their journey at Elon.
Brilliance Award Recipient: Reagan Wible ’26
Student Superlatives
- Most Likely To Be In The API Room: Pagnapech Ngoun ’26
- Most Likely To Be On A Reality TV Show: Olivia Mohil ’27
- Most Likely To Brighten Your Day: Seleyna Bautista ’26
- Busiest Bee: Lillian Chen ’26