At Babson, Students Find Belonging and Community

Sienzhi Kouemo ’20 and Wes Woodson ’20
Listen

Belonging and community. The two words go hand in hand.

Finding a sense of belonging comes with being a member of a community. Not just any community, of course, but one that is inclusive, collaborative, and trusting.

Virtually addressing the Class of 2020 at the Students of Color Graduation and Black Student sendoff, joined by family, friends, as well as faculty and staff, former classmates Wes Woodson ’20 and Sienzhi Kouemo ’20 reminisced about how they found the sense of belonging in the Babson community, and why this same group contributes hope for the future.

An Esteemed Class

Woodson found the emotion of belonging both in and out of the classroom, recalling how his professors made him feel like the brightest student in the room, and on his time as a member and president of Babson’s Black Student Union, which provided not only a sentiment of purpose, but also family.

“We walk away from Babson, knowing that we didn’t only belong, but we even helped to make it a better place,” Woodson said at the Students of Color Graduation.

Kouemo said his time at Babson afforded him a new outlook on life, as a result of experiences, opportunities, and the people he met at the institution.

“We still live in a world that discriminates based on the color of skin,” Kouemo said at the Black Student sendoff. “I have hope for the future because I’m surrounded by this community.”


“A world pandemic tried to knock you down, and you got up. What could be more inspiring than the stories you got to tell about this year?”
Sadie Burton-Goss, Chief Inclusive Excellence Officer

Both ceremonies, held in the days prior and following degree conferral, acclaimed class accomplishments.

“It’s important to carry on the tradition of celebrating our black students,” said Patrick Hale, director of Multicultural and Identity Programs. “Black students have had to endure a lot, but you’ve certainly persevered, and it’s important we take the time to celebrate you.”

Individual seniors were recognized through personally submitted notes and off-the-cuff shout-outs from family and friends.

Barreling Through Challenges

Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Lawrence Ward recalled the Students of Color welcome ceremony at the beginning of the academic year, where he asked incoming students to envision their legacy in 25 or 50 years.

“I hope that they would have said, ‘We were an academic community that was curious, open, inclusive, that we held each other accountable but could also be forgiving,’ ” he said. “Full disclosure, I had this senior class in mind … your fire has given us light to guide our way.”

The Class of 2020 is highlighted by the largest number of students who identify as African Americans in the history of the College.

“Every minute of your education at Babson College has prepared you to be changemakers,” said Sadie Burton-Goss, chief inclusive excellence officer. “A world pandemic tried to knock you down, and you got up. What could be more inspiring than the stories you got to tell about this year?”

Associate Professor Tina Opie encouraged graduates to view this moment as a launching pad.

“Graduation is the beautiful beginning of a new journey,” she said.

Posted in Community

More from Community »

Latest Stories

Three photos in a side-by-side collage depict Michael Kopelman coaching, Brady Anderson in action, and the doubles team celebrating
Courting Success: How Babson Tennis Teams Transformed into National Powerhouses With championships and top-tier recruiting classes, Babson Director of Tennis Michael Kopelman has overseen the transformation of the men’s and women’s programs into national powerhouses.
By
Scott Dietz
Writer
Scott Dietz
Scott Dietz is Babson College's Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications. Dietz is responsible for the department's internal and external communications, including branding, campus engagement, marketing, social media, sponsorships and website management. Additional duties consist of event coverage, facilitation of interview requests, media pitching, video content, writing and editing. Before Babson, Dietz spent 13-plus years at fellow NEWMAC institution Wheaton College, worked for the NFL, New England Patriots, and in the media relations department with the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. A native of South Park, PA, Dietz began his sports information career at Westminster College.
September 2, 2025

Posted in Community

Babson Build students from HBCUs participate in an exercise in the Weissman Foundry
An Entrepreneurial Summer: How Babson Impacts Communities Year-Round The school year may be over, but Babson’s work of educating entrepreneurial leaders doesn’t stop. In the summer, many entrepreneurs, educators, and leaders descend on campus. They come from around the globe to connect and to learn. What they take away from the College can impact their companies, their classrooms, and their communities.
By
John Crawford
Senior Journalist
John Crawford
A writer for Babson Thought & Action and the Babson Magazine, John Crawford has been telling the College’s entrepreneurial story for more than 15 years. Assignments for Babson have taken him from Rwanda to El Salvador, from the sweet-smelling factory of a Pennsylvania candy maker, to the stately Atlanta headquarters of an NFL owner, to the bustling office of a New York City fashion designer. Beyond his work for Babson, he has written articles and essays for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Notre Dame Magazine, The Good Men Project, and other publications. He can be found on Twitter, @crawfordwriter, where he tweets about climate change.
August 29, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Juan “JC” Grullon ’27 and Ty Bradford ’29 shake hands outside Publishers Hall
Publishers Hall Welcomes First-Year Students to Its Cozy Confines During move-in day, a new crop of first-year students made Publishers Hall their home. The small residence hall, built over a century ago, is known for the tight-knit communities that form there.
By
John Crawford
Senior Journalist
John Crawford
A writer for Babson Thought & Action and the Babson Magazine, John Crawford has been telling the College’s entrepreneurial story for more than 15 years. Assignments for Babson have taken him from Rwanda to El Salvador, from the sweet-smelling factory of a Pennsylvania candy maker, to the stately Atlanta headquarters of an NFL owner, to the bustling office of a New York City fashion designer. Beyond his work for Babson, he has written articles and essays for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Notre Dame Magazine, The Good Men Project, and other publications. He can be found on Twitter, @crawfordwriter, where he tweets about climate change.
August 28, 2025

Posted in Community