Nearly 1,460 students to graduate at Wright State’s spring commencement ceremonies

Wright State University will hold its spring graduate commencement ceremony on Friday, May 2, at 7 p.m. and its undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 3, at 10 a.m. in the Nutter Center.

Nearly 1,460 students are expected to graduate during Wright State University’s spring 2025 commencement ceremonies in the Wright State Nutter Center on Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3.

The 1,459 graduates will join more than 120,000 Wright State alumni who are making a difference throughout Raider Country, all over Ohio, across the nation and around the world.

Notable 2025 graduates

Whether through business, health care or public service, these three Wright State University graduates share a common thread — a deep commitment to making a difference. From mastering the business of people to bringing empathy to patient care to building a nonprofit across continents, Lily Leszczuk, Justin Zielske and Angela Bingaya are turning their passions into powerful paths forward.

Lily Leszczuk will graduate from Wright State with degrees in marketing, management, human resource management and entrepreneurship

Lily Leszczuk: A grand slam of degrees and ambition

Lily Leszczuk will graduate from Wright State this spring with a rare academic grand slam —degrees in marketing, management, human resource management and entrepreneurship.

“Some people like to write, some like to draw,” she said. “I like to learn how businesses work — how they support and engage their employees through good times and bad.”

Leszczuk didn’t have a clear path when she enrolled at Wright State, but she quickly discovered her interests.

Finance and accounting courses helped her realize she was more drawn to the people-centered side of business. Management accounting piqued her interest, leading to classes in economics, marketing and international business.

Her curiosity about business operations inspired her to explore human resources and entrepreneurship. She also participated in the Emerging Marketing Leaders Program, where she was mentored by a professional in health care marketing, and served as president of Wright State’s American Marketing Association chapter.

Wright State’s proximity to home and the university’s supportive environment were essential for Leszczuk, who has a hearing impairment. With help from the Office of Disability Services, including lecture transcripts, she thrived.

“We’re not just a campus with accessibility, but with real resources to help people,” she said. “The culture here is really great.”

After graduation, Leszczuk hopes to launch a career in HR or marketing, especially digital media, advertising, or scriptwriting. Ultimately, she dreams of turning her success into her own business, possibly centered on a board game she wants to develop.

“Wright State gave me the tools I need,” Leszczuk said. “The rest is up to me.”

Justin Zielske will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

From stage to scrubs: Justin Zielske’s path to health care

Justin Zielske’s passion for theater has helped him develop skills for his future in health care.

“I’m quiet, so I want to be more talkative with patients to build trust and rapport,” said Zielske, who is graduating this spring with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. “The theater experience is teaching me to be more outgoing.”

Acting also taught him the importance of emotional control.

“We are taught how even body language can affect the nurse’s connection with a patient,” he said.

Zielske, who spent much of his childhood in hospitals due to recurring infections, always felt drawn to health care. Supporting a relative through illness strengthened that interest.

“I admired how we were treated,” he said. “The nurses were always fantastic.”

The pandemic solidified his decision.

“I read so many stories about nurses working way many hours of overtime per week just to make sure people were taken care of,” he said. “That cemented it for me. I felt a calling.”

At Wright State, Zielske pursued nursing and a certificate in organizational leadership.

“It’s about the best ways to use your personal strengths, which is fantastic,” he said. “The focus is on your core leadership strengths and lean into that.”

He applies his strength — processing and retaining information — to clinical settings.

“I’ve been able to apply everything I’m learning to the clinical setting,” he said. “It’s easy for me to remember things about patients.”

To him, leadership means being a resource. He served as a president’s ambassador and as vice president of the Dean’s Student Advisory Board for the College of Health, Education and Human Services.

“When I came here, I was unsure what to do, but Wright State has prepared me fantastically,” he said.

After graduation, Zielske will begin his career as a registered nurse in the Heart and Lung Transplant Unit at the Cleveland Clinic.

Angela Bingaya enrolled in Wright State’s Master of Public Administration program to help with her work with her family’s nonprofit Zion Highway Mission.

Angela Bingaya: Building a better future at home and abroad

Angela Bingaya is driven by a mission to show that one person can make a difference.

She enrolled in Wright State’s Master of Public Administration program to gain the tools to expand her impact through her family’s nonprofit Zion Highway Mission, which serves communities in Burundi and Dayton.

“I naturally like government, public policy and law. This major seemed to fit me the most,” said Bingaya, who also earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Wright State. “It gave me the chance to explore and share research I developed as I was learning.”

For instance, she presented original research on public administration education, preparing students to work in local government and gendered leadership dynamics at three Wright State events.

Bingaya and her family launched Zion Highway Mission in Burundi, one of the world’s poorest nations.

“A lot of children don’t have enough food, and their parents can’t feed them,” Bingaya said.

Angela Bingaya will graduate with a Master of Public Administration.

Bingaya, her sister Bembeleza, and their mother, Pauline Bankesha, travel there regularly to distribute food, clothing and school supplies. Bingaya and her sister also lead fundraising efforts.

The family also launched a branch of the nonprofit in Dayton to support teens and young adults in need of guidance.

“We’re trying to help direct them back into school or back on track with their lives, whether that means helping them get into school or find a job,” she said.

Zion Highway Mission is central to Bingaya’s life.

“It’s the basis for who I am and what I want to do — social justice, public service and helping those in need,” she said. “Something my mother always taught us is to give of what we have to fill a need.”

After graduation, Bingaya plans to pursue a law degree.

“I have a passion to serve people in a bigger way,” she said.

Spring commencement details

Wright State will hold two spring commencement ceremonies in the Nutter Center:

Graduate Ceremony: Friday, May 2, 7:00 p.m.
Undergraduate Ceremony: Saturday, May 3, 10:00 a.m.

Tickets are not required to attend, but graduates are asked to limit their guests to no more than 14 people so that everyone can be accommodated. Seating in the Wright State Nutter Center is first-come, first-served. Guests are limited to one clear bag per person and a small clutch bag for privacy.

Doors will open 90 minutes before the start of each ceremony. Guests should enter at gates 2, 3 and 4.

The commencement ceremonies can be watched on Wright State’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. The recorded videos will also be available on YouTube after the ceremonies.

Commencement will feature a brief congratulatory video message from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.

In addition to the Dayton Campus ceremonies, the Lake Campus will host a commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 1, 5:30 p.m. at Romer’s Celina Ballroom, 1100 S. Main St. in Celina.

This spring, Wright State will award 960 bachelor’s degrees, 4769 master’s degrees, 10 doctoral degrees and 28 associate degrees.

The class of 2025 includes 271 international students from 20 different countries, with India boasting the largest number of international graduates, at 215.

The youngest graduating students are 18, earning bachelor’s degrees in computer engineering and technical and applied studies. The oldest graduate is 73, earning a bachelor’s degree in modern languages.

Graduates by college:

• College of Health, Education and Human Services: 356
• College of Engineering and Computer Science: 321
• Raj Soin College of Business: 208
• College of Liberal Arts: 194
• College of Science and Mathematics: 193
• Lake Campus: 139
• Boonshoft School of Medicine: 53