On Friday, May 13, the Academy will celebrate its first in-person commencement ceremony in three years. As we reunite to honor the accomplishments of the class of 2022, we recognize the extraordinary ways that the Academy community came together like never before.

And this class in particular is well worth honoring. The graduating class of 2022 thrived in the face of even the most challenging circumstances. When campus access was limited and Academy students couldn't use the makerspace, MS PRIN student Edwin Chan built product prototypes from household items around his apartment. When the public rethought public spaces in light of COVID safety, MSIDBT student Nick Moser developed new UV smart-lighting systems to sanitize office buildings.

And despite bouts of learning at a distance, Academy students have grown closer than ever. Forging ahead with a collaborative approach, the Academy graduating class of 2022 takes teamwork to the next level. Undergraduates Ysabella Delgado and Quinn Jones started their jewelry business Kikay during their time at the Academy, and graduation won't stop their thriving momentum.

As commencement approaches, the class of 2022 look forward to celebrating the fruits of their hard work. And with an in-person commencement ceremony once again, Academy students eagerly anticipate sharing their accomplishments with peers, friends, and family. These emerging luminaries have already achieved so much in their time at USC — and they show no signs of stopping!

As some of our upcoming graduates prepare for their next steps, they reflect on the proudest and defining moments they’ve encountered during their time at the Academy, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. 

Mediatrix Lopez
Master of Science, Integrated Design, Business and Technology

“I’ve grown a lot during my time at IYA, and I’m honestly most proud of how much confidence I’ve gained and how my approach to problem-solving has changed since starting the program. I’m definitely coming out of this program a different person! In terms of actual accomplishments, I’m really proud to have been selected as a Graduate Mentor for the Applied Creative Technology class and to have been hired as a Virtual Reality Designer for a project with USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. I studied Film and Media Studies during my undergrad, so to be designing immersive spaces for innovative filmmaking is a full-circle moment for me! When my boss at the School of Cinematic Arts introduced me to my team for the first time, he mentioned that ‘there are brilliant minds over there at IYA,’ and that made me really proud to be part of this Academy.”

Ashara Wilson
Bachelor of Science, Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation

"Coming into the Academy I was told that I would get out what I put in. I wasn’t sure what that meant, after all its school and don’t we all learn the same curriculum? But I realize that this is really about your future being in your hands. What happened here, the lessons I learned in class, how I applied them, that was up to me. What happens after I graduate is up to me too (given the broader structural inequities in society of course)."

Dee Iacopelli
Master of Science, Integrated Design, Business and Technology

“Deciding to enroll in this master's program well into my career and long after completing an undergraduate degree has been a reminder for me that you can always carve out the time to invest in yourself and learn new things and build new skills. So the lesson I will take away from my time at the Academy is that we're always a work in progress, we're always learning, evolving, and growing. No matter our age, and no matter how much we already know, we can always level up.”

Max Craig
Master of Science, Integrated Design, Business and Technology

"Every time a classmate gets excited about what we're doing, or joins the team for a class and contributes their expertise, I'm just overwhelmed with pride and gratitude. Internal validation is cool and all, but let's be real, we all need peer approval to keep pushing through. IYA has been such an incredible place to start a business and I honestly can't imagine how much more difficult it would have been without this community and its support."

As commencement nears, the Class of 2022 prepares for their next chapters as they look back on what made the Academy experience so significant.

Graduates Share Memorable Moments and Lessons Learned