Skip to main content
McMaster University
DeGroote School of Business
McMaster University
Search

DSB Main Website Search

McMaster Menu
DeGroote Menu
  • Home
  • Programs
  • About
    • About DeGroote
    • Our Leadership
    • Dean’s Corner
    • Our Faculty & Research  
    • McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery
    • Strategic Plan 
    • Annual Report 
  • Events
  • Students
    • Student Resources
    • Student Clubs
    • Submit a Student Bulletin
    • Submit your Event
  • Alumni
    • Alumni Resources
    • Wayne C. Fox Distinguished Alumni Award 
    • DeGroote Alumni Social Impact Award
  • Staff
  • Give
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • DeGroote Directory
Search McMaster Menu
  • Home
  • Programs
  • About
    About DeGrooteOur LeadershipDean’s CornerOur Faculty & Research  McLean Centre for Collaborative DiscoveryStrategic Plan Annual Report 
  • Events
  • Students
    Student ResourcesStudent ClubsSubmit a Student BulletinSubmit your Event
  • Alumni
    Alumni ResourcesWayne C. Fox Distinguished Alumni Award DeGroote Alumni Social Impact Award
  • Staff
  • Give
  • Contact
    Contact UsDeGroote Directory

ALUMNI  

Class of 2022 Shares Memories and Advice

June 21, 2022 ·

Contributed by: Joanna Williams, DeGroote Writer

Share

Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Mail Copy Link

 

During the Spring 2022 convocation ceremony we spoke with graduating students about their time at DeGroote. Some of the words they used to describe their cohort include: motivating, resilient, community, outstanding, amazing, hard working, friendly, and wonderful.

 

“This is my favorite day of the year,” says Sue McCracken, Associate Dean, Academic. “I’m so proud of all our students. It was so lovely seeing them all walk across the stage with big smiles. And we can’t forget the parents and the families and how exciting it is for everyone. We talk about the DeGroote community and the community extends past just our students and our faculty and staff. It’s all of the families as well.”

 

How does it feel to be graduating?

“It feels amazing! To be amongst my peers is truly remarkable and to see everyone’s accomplishments. I’m so proud to be a DeGroote graduate. DeGroote has meant so much to me – I absolutely love the community. I was very involved as an undergrad and I’m so proud to be part of the DeGroote alumni.”

Stephanie Halliday, BCom ‘22 

 

 

Describe your cohort in one word

“Amazing! In the IBH program I met amazing people, made some amazing friends and did some amazing work with them so I will remember them for a very, very long time.”

Mehak Dutt, IBH ‘22 

 

 

 

What advice would you give to your first-year self?

“Enjoy the journey. It’s not really about the destination, you really want to spend time enjoying the people you’re with and the classes you’re in. You only get to do university once, so you really should enjoy your time there.”

Michael Power, BCom ‘22 

 

 

 

What’s your proudest memory of your time at DeGroote?

“My first co-op because that was a time when I was not sure if I would be getting an internship or not – and I had five offers – so that was one of the proudest moments for me.”

Sumit Dave, MBA ‘22  

 

 

 

Describe your cohort in one word

“Community. The first time I came to campus I just knew that this was the one I was going to go to. It just felt like one big happy family and that’s how I felt the entire four years I’ve been here.”

Faith Lahti, BCom ’22 

 

 

 

How does it feel to be graduating?

“It’s amazing being here and it’s amazing collecting our blood sweat and tears on a piece of paper. It’s a great feeling.”

M. Sheharyar Rashid, MFin ‘22

 

 

 

 

What advice would you give to your first-year self?

“Keep calm. Honestly everything happens for a reason. You learn from each failure that comes your way and you just have to learn and improve based on any obstacle that comes through.”

Ahlam Makhtal, BCom ‘22 

 

 

 

Do you have a hero?

“My mom, my grandparents, myself as well, and my friends. Everyone that really inspired me and shaped me and who I met during my undergrad. Everyone that I meet really inspires me and they’re all my heroes.”

Shirou (Yvonne) Zheng, BCom ‘22 

 

 

 

What advice would you give to your first-year self?

“Enjoy the experience. Keep learning from people around you, be it friends, family, faculty, staff – they’re all there to support you, so learn from them as much as you can.”

Atishaye Adya, MBA ‘22

 

 

 

What advice would you give to your first-year self?

“Go out and try everything. Be courageous, take the risk because they’re all going to be worth it. There’s growth in the fall.”

Abiha Hassan, IBH ‘22 

 
 

Tags:   ABIHA HASSAN AHLAM MAKHTAL ATISHAYE ADYA BCOM CONVOCATION FAITH LAHTI IBH MBA MEHAK DUTT MFIN MICHAEL POWER SHEHERYAR RASHID SHIROU (YVONNE) ZHENG STEPHANIE HALLIDAY SUE MCCRACKEN SUMIT DAVE

Related Stories

Triplets take on campus life together this fall
September 5, 2025 · STUDENT

Triplets take on campus life together this fall

From research to impact: DeGroote undergraduate student research day  
August 20, 2025 · RESEARCH · STRATEGIC PLAN | RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP · STUDENT

From research to impact: DeGroote undergraduate student research day  

GRIT Week 2025: The DeGroote Impact Film Festival
July 25, 2025 · SOCIETAL IMPACT · STRATEGIC PLAN | TEACHING AND LEARNING · STUDENT

GRIT Week 2025: The DeGroote Impact Film Festival

A mother-daughter moment at graduation
July 21, 2025 · ALUMNI

A mother-daughter moment at graduation

Whelen Fellowship connects grad students with McMaster startups to drive real-world impact
June 27, 2025 · ALUMNI · DEVELOPMENT

Whelen Fellowship connects grad students with McMaster startups to drive real-world impact

Leading with joy, bold authenticity and compassionate leadership 
June 23, 2025 · ALUMNI · STRATEGIC PLAN | INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE · STUDENT CLUB

Leading with joy, bold authenticity and compassionate leadership 

Finding my way: A reflection on growth, leadership and community 
June 19, 2025 · STRATEGIC PLAN | TEACHING AND LEARNING · STUDENT

Finding my way: A reflection on growth, leadership and community 

From scrubs to strategy: My journey through nursing and the DeGroote MBA 
June 18, 2025 · STRATEGIC PLAN | TEACHING AND LEARNING · STUDENT

From scrubs to strategy: My journey through nursing and the DeGroote MBA 

Pursuing doctorates together: A story of academic partnership 
June 18, 2025 · INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Pursuing doctorates together: A story of academic partnership 

Taking action towards sustainability: DeGroote Greensuits restore campus biodiversity 
May 22, 2025 · STUDENT · STRATEGIC PLAN | ENGAGING COMMUNITIES

Taking action towards sustainability: DeGroote Greensuits restore campus biodiversity 

‘In the city’s talent pipeline, students play a really critical role’
May 7, 2025 · STUDENT · STRATEGIC PLAN | INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE

‘In the city’s talent pipeline, students play a really critical role’

Breaking the cycle of ultra-poverty, one village at a time
April 29, 2025 · ALUMNI · STRATEGIC PLAN | INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE · SOCIETAL IMPACT

Breaking the cycle of ultra-poverty, one village at a time

Lonely no more: A new app is redefining friendship for Gen Z
April 3, 2025 · SOCIETAL IMPACT · STUDENT · STRATEGIC PLAN | ENGAGING COMMUNITIES

Lonely no more: A new app is redefining friendship for Gen Z

From classroom to career: The lasting impact of work-integrated learning 
March 26, 2025 · STUDENT

From classroom to career: The lasting impact of work-integrated learning 

DeGroote Pride Association bridges gap between 2SLGBTQIA+ students and business professionals
March 25, 2025 · STUDENT CLUB · STUDENT · STRATEGIC PLAN | INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE

DeGroote Pride Association bridges gap between 2SLGBTQIA+ students and business professionals

DeGroote School of Business DeGroote School of Business Logo
DeGroote Instagram logo DeGroote Linkedin logo DeGroote Facebook logo DeGroote YouTube Logo DeGroote TikTok Logo
DeGroote Menu

  • Programs
  • About DeGroote
  • Events
  • Student Resources
  • Staff Resources
  • Alumni Resources
  • Give
  • DeGroote Directory
  • Contact Us
  • Faculty & Research  
Hamilton Campus

DeGroote School of Business
McMaster University

1280 Main Street West

Hamilton, Ontario
L8S 4M4
Burlington Campus

DeGroote School of Business
Ron Joyce Centre

4350 South Service Road

Burlington, Ontario
L7L 5R8
AACSB Logo

McMaster University is committed to providing websites that are accessible to the widest possible audience.  

If you require any content on this website in an alternate format, please contact dsbweb@mcmaster.ca and we will respond promptly.

DeGroote Online Privacy Policy

McMaster Brighter World Logo McMaster University - Brighter World Logo
Contact McMaster McMaster Terms & Conditions McMaster Privacy Policy
Secret Link