Elgin Community College Announces Fall 2025 Commencement Student Speakers

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Elgin Community College (ECC) has chosen two student speakers for the fall 2025 commencement ceremonies. This year’s speakers  describe their time at ECC as “one of the most transformative experiences in my life” and “my second chance when I thought I had none.” 

Diego Santiago Adrianzen Ruiz, who is receiving an associate in arts, will address graduates at the Transfer Degree Ceremony, and nursing student Naomi Amadei will speak at the Career and Technical Degrees Ceremony.

“Coming to Elgin Community College was more than just starting a degree,” Ruiz said about his time at ECC. “It was a way to honor my mom’s sacrifices, my brother’s strength, and the promise I made to myself to never give up, no matter how hard things can get."

“I never thought I would attend ECC; however, ECC became my second chance when I thought I had none,” Amadei said about her time at ECC. “I came here for just one class, to just figure out what my next step would be, and got rewarded with so much more: a new passion, a new career, amazing friends, and a new outlook on life.”

ECC will recognize its fall 2025 graduates with two commencement ceremonies on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Building J Events Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, Illinois.

The ceremony for Career and Technical Degrees and Certificates will begin at 10 am. The Transfer Degree ceremony will begin at 2 pm. Guests may enter one hour early for both ceremonies. 

The faculty speaker at both ceremonies will be Nina Ulman, instructor of history and political science. 

Both ceremonies will be livestreamed at youtube.com/ElginSpartans.

For more information, visit elgin.edu/graduation. Media are kindly requested to RSVP in advance, no later than 12 pm, Friday, December 12.

Contact:

Elgin Community College

Communications

Office: 847.214.7838 

Email: news@elgin.edu