{"id":233323,"date":"2026-04-29T13:59:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T23:59:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=233323"},"modified":"2026-05-08T16:59:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T02:59:14","slug":"uhwo-commencement-student-speaker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/29\/uhwo-commencement-student-speaker\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> West O\u02bbahu commencement student speaker: ‘Support others who may be walking a similar path’"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> < 1<\/span> minute<\/span><\/span>
\"Georcelle
Georcelle Lozano<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Georcelle Lozano\u2019s journey to where she is today and her upcoming graduation from the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2013West Oʻahu<\/span> began eight years ago and about 5,370 miles away in her beloved hometown of Balaoan, La Union, Philippines. When she was 14, her family immigrated to Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> in 2018 to reunite with relatives and build a new life in a new country.<\/p>\n

Lozano is a first-generation college student and the only fluent English speaker among her immediate family members, who speak their native Ilokano. Over the years, both her academic and familial responsibilities involved trying to figure out unknown processes and systems not only for herself, but others in her family.<\/p>\n

Meet more amazing UH<\/abbr> graduates<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Lozano said the experience shaped her understanding of how access to information and support can significantly influence someone\u2019s ability to succeed.<\/p>\n

“Graduation represents years of sacrifice, both mine and my family\u2019s,” said Lozano. “It reflects the journey of leaving home, adapting to a new country, and learning how to navigate unfamiliar spaces.”<\/p>\n

Lozano will share her story as one of two student speakers at UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span>\u2019s 2026 annual commencement<\/a> on May 9.<\/p>\n

Lozano earned, with distinction, a bachelor of education in secondary education with a focus on mathematics.<\/p>\n

“For me, this moment is not just an ending, but a responsibility,” Lozano said. “It is a reminder that everything I have learned here is meant to be carried forward and used to support others who may be walking a similar path.”<\/p>\n

Read more at Ka Puna O Kaloʻi<\/span><\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

First-generation college student Georcelle Lozano will share her story as one of two student speakers at UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span>\u2019s 2026 annual commencement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":233321,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[234,204,1459,554,660,59],"class_list":["post-233323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-commencement","tag-education","tag-ka-puna-o-kaloi","tag-mathematics","tag-student-recognition","tag-uh-west-oahu","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t