MassBay Community College proudly announces that 2025 graduate Diana Cavazos of Revere, MA, has been selected to perform the national anthem at the College’s 63rd Commencement. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the College’s Wellesley Hills campus.
Diana, who will graduate with an Associate Degree in Nursing, has a remarkable story of perseverance, talent, and determination. A native of Monterrey, Mexico, Diana worked as a practicing nurse in geriatric care before moving to the United States to improve her English through an au pair program. What began as a plan to take a few English classes quickly turned into a full-time pursuit of a degree.
“In Mexico I was a practicing nurse helping geriatric patients, but I wanted to work on my English skills,” said Diana. “I moved to the U.S. to become an au pair and started taking classes. I have been working extremely hard to improve my English; there was a time when going to the grocery store was an adventure. I could barely say hello, and now I’m ready to sing the national anthem at graduation.”
Diana has been singing since she was a child. “My dad would work at parties and events and have me sing for people. That’s really when I started performing, and it just became part of my life. I love to sing,” she said. Being chosen to perform at commencement is deeply meaningful for her. “It’s a tremendous honor. I came to this country with a dream, and to be selected for something so symbolic makes me feel welcomed and part of something greater.”
During her time at MassBay, Diana made the Dean’s List twice and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She was also an active member of the Nursing Club. “I love the diversity at MassBay. There are so many events and amazing sense of community here. It reminds me of home in Mexico, where we’d bring food for each other and gather kor karaoke. I just love the community.”
After graduation, Diana hopes to continue working in the nursing field, particularly in a geriatric of rehabilitation setting. “I want to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. I’m so grateful to be part of the MassBay community,” she added. “The support I’ve received from professors, classmates, and friends has meant the world to me. I’ve grown so much personally and academically, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
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