Montgomery College to Award Almost 3,400 Degrees and Certificates to More than 3,100 Students in Celebration of the 78th Graduating Class This Friday, May 23

Montgomery College will recognize the class of 2025 at the 78th Annual Commencement Exercises this Friday, May 23 at 10:30 a.m. on the Rockville Campus Athletic Field. The College will recognize students from the Germantown, Rockville and Takoma Park/Silver Spring campuses, Workforce Development and Continuing Education programs, the Board of Trustees Academic Excellence honorees, and the four honorary degree recipients. This year, more than 1,320 graduates have registered to participate in the Commencement ceremony.

For the class of 2025 there will be more than 3,100 awardees. Representing 116 countries, the graduates mirror the vast diversity of Montgomery County. Specifically, graduating students identify themselves as: Asian (15%), Black/African American (23%), foreign students (11%), Hispanic (28%), White (18%), and Multiracial (4%). The average age of this year’s graduates is 25.5 years of age; the youngest graduate is 16 years old, while the oldest is 78 years old.

For more information about Friday’s ceremony including options for viewing at home, visit the Montgomery College Commencement webpagenew window.

The 2025 Board of Trustees Academic Excellence Awardees:

Maria E. Delgadillo Mena
Academic Excellence Award - Liberal Arts and Education

Ms. Maria E. Delgadillo Mena, a general studies (social sciences, administration, and health) major and member of Phi Theta Kappa, is graduating with a 3.83 grade point average.

A native of El Salvador, she came to the United States in 2022 and earned a GED before enrolling at Montgomery College.

She was a member of the Southern Maryland Leadership Program, leading to an internship with SERVPRO of Rockville, where she worked with the marketing team for two semesters. She participated in the Social Justice Inclusive Leadership Institute and the Digital Storytelling Internship at the Paul Peck Humanities Institute.

She earned the English and Reading Award at the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus. She presented her creative writing at the Cherry Blossom Conference.

She recently was accepted at the University of Maryland, where she is a finalist for the Frederick Douglas Merit Scholarship. She will study psychology. Her goal is to be a school counselor, helping students achieve their academic goals and advocating for mental health.

Aditya Raj Binjariya
Academic Excellence Award - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and Health Sciences

Mr. Aditya Raj Binjariya, a computer science major and member of Phi Theta Kappa, is graduating with a 3.93 grade point average. Born and raised in Jodphur, India, he came to the United States as an international student in 2023.

He is a member of the Renaissance Scholars and STEM Scholars honors programs. The Maryland Collegiate Honors Council awarded him best abstract as a presenter this spring.

He earned the Rita Kranidis Global Humanities Scholarship. He also received a Paul Peck Humanities Institute Scholarship and a Webber Family Foundation Humanities Fund Grant supporting his coursework and research at the Library of Congress and the National Institutes of Health last summer.

As a member of the MC LEADS program, he led an initiative to establish a much-needed medical clinic on each campus. Outside the classroom, he volunteered at the Interfaith Clothing Center and Interfaith Food Pantry.

He will transfer to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor’s degree in computer science. He hopes to apply his computational skills to solve real-world problems.

Alexis Orihuela Mencia
Academic Excellence Award - Workforce Development and Continuing Education

Mr. Alexis Orihuela Mencia, an architectural technology major and member of Phi Theta Kappa, is graduating with a 4.0 grade point average.

After graduating from Walter Johnson High School, he was uncertain of his career path. He enrolled at Montgomery College—and after the first semester, he chose to study architectural technology. He believes being part of this program has been one of the most enriching experiences of his life. He was named to the Dean’s List every semester he attended MC.

He earned the AIA Potomac Valley Architecture Foundation Scholarship and the Student Academic Excellence Award. He enjoyed participating in architectural design competitions, including MICROHOME and the Museum of Emotions.

After completing his degree in December 2024, he transferred to the bachelor’s degree program in architecture at University of Maryland, which is a competitive and accelerated path to earning a master’s degree and licensure. This summer he will study abroad in Japan, where the curriculum will focus on urbanization, planning, and history research.  

Vanessa Posse-Mir
Apprenticeship Academic Excellence Award - Workforce Development and Continuing Education

Ms. Vanessa Posse-Mir is completing a two-year apprenticeship program as an automotive technician. She is enrolled in the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association apprentice-related instruction program. A three-year employee of Fitzgerald Mazda in Frederick, Maryland, she began performing basic maintenance—tires, lights, and wiper blades. She currently works as a certified Mazda technician.

A self-described problem solver, she prides herself not only on completing complex diagnostics quickly and efficiently but also on assisting coworkers, family, and friends with maintenance and troubleshooting issues. She believes quality work at an honest price is essential—and believes her mechanical expertise and fair-mindedness will ensure trust with clients.

As a junior in high school, she enrolled in the Frederick County Public Schools Career and Technology Center. She owns a 1994 Mazda Miata project car, which she enjoys working on in her spare time. She is also an avid reader.

Ms. Posse-Mir lives in Urbana, Maryland, with her parents. She wants to earn Mazda master senior technician certification—and someday open her own automotive shop.