{"id":226298,"date":"2025-05-09T12:32:58","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T16:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=226298"},"modified":"2025-11-07T13:31:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T18:31:30","slug":"this-is-what-graduating-looks-like-samantha-eloys-joy-filled-moment-captures-the-spirit-of-commencement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2025\/05\/09\/this-is-what-graduating-looks-like-samantha-eloys-joy-filled-moment-captures-the-spirit-of-commencement\/","title":{"rendered":"This Is What Graduating Looks Like: Samantha Eloy\u2019s Joy-Filled Moment Captures the Spirit of Commencement"},"content":{"rendered":"

As confetti rained down at the end of Montclair State University\u2019s Spring Commencement 2025<\/a>, Samantha Eloy tilted her head back, her smile radiant. In a packed arena filled with cheering families and proud graduates, she says it felt like everything else disappeared.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn’t hear or see anything,\u201d Eloy says. \u201cI had no clue the photo was being taken. All I could feel \u2013 see, sense \u2013 was joy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Eloy earned her Master of Public Health<\/a> degree and works as an Assistant Community Director at the Village Apartments. Her celebration on the Prudential Center floor marked more than just the end of a degree \u2013 it was the fulfillment of years of dedication, resilience and faith.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn that moment, all of the hard work, prayers, trials and obstacles that I had overcome were brought to remembrance. This is a celebration of the journey ahead and the many more milestones I will accomplish.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

From Graduation to Global Impact<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While pursuing her MPH, Eloy interned at Be Well Women’s Health, an OBGYN practice in Northfield, New Jersey, where she connected her coursework to clinical practice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn my time there, I worked on cultural competency, addressing health disparities, and ensuring quality patient care,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eloy isn\u2019t done yet. She plans to continue her education and attend medical school \u2013 driven by a lifelong passion for health care and a desire to give back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI spent much of my childhood in Haiti, and over the years I\u2019ve witnessed the challenges many face due to a lack of medical resources,\u201d she says. \u201cA long-term goal is to open a clinic in Haiti and provide care to those who otherwise might go without.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As she looks ahead, Eloy says she\u2019s more confident than ever in her calling.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve grown to see the light that shines within me, and I can’t wait to let that light shine out into the world \u2013 a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This story is part of a series celebrating Montclair State University\u2019s Spring Commencement 2025 graduates<\/a> \u2013 students who embody the University\u2019s mission to broaden access to exceptional learning and contribute to the common good.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Ready to Start Your Montclair Journey?<\/strong><\/h2>\n