University of Mary Washington Class of 2026 Senior Spotlights: Part 2 of 2
As the Class of 2026 prepares to soar from the University of Mary Washington, we turn the spotlight on graduating seniors. These Eagles have spent their college years finding what matters most, rising to challenges and lighting the way for others. Before they take flight, meet some of the seniors whose stories reflect the spirit of the UMW campus community.
It All Adds Up for Star International Student
Aloysious Kabonge, Applied Mathematics and Statistics
The distance between the University of Mary Washington and the small town in Uganda where Aloysious Kabonge grew up is more than 7,000 miles.
Adjusting to life as an international student that far away in a new country came with its share of challenges. “But I’ve formed strong bonds and built a supportive community that has truly made Mary Washington feel like home,” said Kabonge, who majored in applied mathematics and statistics, minored in data science, and earned multiple scholarships and awards throughout his college career.
College of Education Grad Aims to Meet Students Where They Are
Mollie Moomaw, Elementary Education
Mollie Moomaw thought she’d follow in her parents’ footsteps, attending the same small private college that they did. Instead, she fell in love with her grandmother’s alma mater as soon as she stepped onto the University of Mary Washington campus.
An elementary education major and disability studies minor with a special education endorsement, Mollie has gained critical skills for working with students receiving individualized support and their caregivers. The recipient of the Joy of Teaching and Claudia Moore Read Dance scholarships, she has applied her learning in public school classrooms while pursuing extracurricular activities and leadership roles on campus.
Study Abroad Makes Student’s Experience Sparkle
Carly Radgowski, French and Conservation Biology
University of Mary Washington senior Carly Radgowski closes her eyes and pictures her friend’s rooftop in Paris, with French music playing softly as the Eiffel Tower begins to sparkle.
“In that moment, I felt such a sense of relief and gratitude,” she said, “that I could be in this beautiful place with this wonderful group of friends.”
Carly had always imagined studying abroad in France, where her mother once lived, and even attended a French immersion school for several years near her home in Vienna, Virginia. But it wasn’t until she received private donor support at UMW that her dream began to take shape.
Planting Seeds of Leadership and Conservation
Amira Said, Environmental Science
If you’d asked University of Mary Washington senior Amira Said to describe herself when she first came to campus, she might have used the word “shy.” Now Student Government Association (SGA) president and Class Council treasurer, she’s anything but, especially when it comes to planning one of UMW’s signature events – ASPIRE Week.
An acronym for Mary Washington values – accountability, scholarship, personal and institutional integrity, inclusive excellence, respect and civility, and engagement – ASPIRE is a campus-wide mantra. It’s celebrated each year with a six-day event launched by one of Said’s SGA president predecessors Jaylyn Long ’24, who passed the torch to Said when she graduated.
“It’s a fantastic tradition,” Said said, “and a reminder of all the things we stand for and care about here at UMW.”
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