Home > A Future Without Limits: Celebrating MIU’s Graduating Class

A Future Without Limits: Celebrating MIU’s Graduating Class

MIU City University Miami’s 2026 Commencement Ceremony on March 6, 2026, brought together nearly 300 of the more than 400 graduating students at the Wolfson Auditorium of Miami Dade College. Graduates, families, friends, professors, and university authorities attended this landmark event to recognize the achievements of a truly global cohort: 141 graduates walked across the stage in person while 146 others participated via live stream from around the world. In total, the university celebrated the successful completion of studies for 413 graduates, each with their own unique story of perseverance and academic excellence.

Wisdom for a changing world

The ceremony began with the timeless tradition of the academic procession, set to the stirring notes of Edward Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance. Following the National Anthem, MIU President Dr. Daniel Burgos delivered an inspiring message to students graduating in a world being reshaped by AI.

Dr. Burgos emphasized that while the “cognitive load of human beings is continuously threatened,” it can be balanced through each individual’s “creativity, free will, and determination.” He urged the graduates to be the “hope” of the modern workforce, championing in-depth analysis and original conclusions even when they go against the mainstream.

Voices of transformation and resilience

The student voices of the day were equally powerful, representing the diverse academic paths offered at MIU. Diana Sofía Garro Castro, the graduate Valedictorian, reflected on her professional evolution as she moved from a medical career in Costa Rica to the world of international business in Miami.

She noted that while medicine taught her discipline, her time at MIU provided the “openness to change” necessary to reach new heights while earning her Master of Science in International Business Administration in Miami. “We are in one of the main international business hubs in the world, where connections beyond the classroom become meaningful opportunities for professional growth and future doors to open,” she shared.

Undergraduate Valedictorian Timothy Homerdee Nicholas, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, offered a relatable and witty perspective on the rigors of modern study. Recognizing that “critical thinking can easily be set aside for a quick AI search,” Timothy praised his peers for choosing a more disciplined path. By using AI to explore questions more deeply rather than seeking easy answers, he noted that “what could have been a crutch became a tool.” This commitment to intellectual grit has left the class “stronger, sharper, and more self-reliant” as they prepare to face life’s unknowns.

Unforgettable moments

The most anticipated moment arrived with the official presentation of diplomas. For students watching from home, seeing their names projected on the auditorium’s large screen was a meaningful moment of recognition, validating years of hard work. Meanwhile, graduates in Miami experienced the unforgettable walk across the stage in groups of six, receiving their diplomas under the proud eyes of family and friends.

The ceremony reached its peak with the official degree conferral by Dr. Marisol Salcedo. As tassels were moved from right to left, the auditorium—and the digital screens—erupted in joy. The iconic image of hundreds of caps flying into the air remains a symbol of the freedom and future awaiting this year’s graduates.

To the MIU Class of 2024-2025: the world is waiting for your next chapter.