Student Speakers

Samantha Lords leaves Boise State with a Master of Arts in counseling focused on addiction treatment. Lords has maintained a 3.93 GPA while completing the program, earning a reputation among faculty and peers as a steady, thoughtful presence in the classroom. She is known for her preparation and for the way she supports others in often challenging, discussion-based courses.

Diana Colis, a sociology major with a business minor, spent her years at Boise State as a dedicated advocate for her peers and the broader community. A consistent high achiever, Colis frequently earned placement on the dean’s list with honors. While she was succeeding, she cared deeply for others, helping them find their place on campus in her roles as an orientation leader and peer navigator. In these capacities, Colis, who is from Shoshone, Idaho, guided over 3,000 incoming students, using her bilingual skills in English and Spanish to help first-generation students and their families feel welcome and supported.

Natalie Ayala, who grew up in Kuna, Idaho, is a mechanical engineering student graduating with a 4.0 GPA, Honors College distinction, and national recognition as a Barry Goldwater Scholar. During her time at Boise State, Ayala has researched advanced thermal and energy systems and worked as an engineering intern for NASA. Ayala also participated in NASA’s Spacesuit User Interface Technologies for Students Challenge and NASA’s Micro-g Neutral Buoyancy Experiment Design Teams, where she worked on interdisciplinary teams to develop technologies supporting astronaut interfaces and lunar exploration systems.

Isaac Celedon of Boise, Idaho has served as Boise State’s student body president since 2024. Graduating with a degree in economics and political science, as well as a minor in legal studies and a certificate in human rights, Celedon looks forward to pursuing a career in public service. Celedon’s involvement with the School of Public Service helped shape his early interest in leadership and service, laying the foundation for his broader engagement on campus. His involvement spanned a variety of organizations including the Boise State Pre-Law Society, the Economics Association and the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity.