Georcelle Lozano’s journey to where she is today and her upcoming graduation from the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu began eight years ago and about 5,370 miles away — in her beloved hometown of Balaoan, La Union, Philippines. Her family immigrated to Hawai‘i in 2018, when she was 14 years old, to reunite with relatives and build a new life in a new country.
Lozano is a first-generation college student and the only fluent English speaker among her immediate family members, who speak in their native Ilokano. Over the years, both her academic and familial responsibilities involved trying to figure out unknown processes and systems not only for herself, but others in her family. Lozano said the experience shaped her understanding of how access to information and support can significantly influence someone’s ability to succeed.
“Graduation represents years of sacrifice, both mine and my family’s,” said Lozano, 21, of ‘Ewa Beach. “It reflects the journey of leaving home, adapting to a new country, and learning how to navigate unfamiliar spaces.”
Lozano will share her story as one of two student speakers at UH West O‘ahu’s 2026 Annual Commencement, taking place 9 a.m. Saturday, May 9, in the Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center on the UH Mānoa campus. All guests are welcome to the ceremony on a first-come, first-seated basis, and will be able to greet their graduates following the formal commencement program at the Clarence T.C. Ching Field. Tickets and parking passes are not required.
Approximately 375 students are candidates for graduation, and of these students, about 250 will be participating in the commencement ceremony, which will celebrate Applied Science, Business Administration, Creative Media, Cybersecurity, Education, Humanities, Natural Science, Public Administration, and Social Sciences candidates.
Lozano will receive, with Distinction, a Bachelor of Education in Secondary Education with a focus on Mathematics.
“For me, this moment is not just an ending, but a responsibility,” Lozano said. “It is a reminder that everything I have learned here is meant to be carried forward and used to support others who may be walking a similar path.”
‘Strength means allowing others to walk alongside you’
Lozano began attending UH West O‘ahu in summer 2023, after graduating from Waipahu High School.
“One of the biggest challenges I faced was learning how to navigate college as a first-generation student after moving from the Philippines,” she said. “I entered a system that had its own language, expectations, and pathways that I did not fully understand. There were moments when I questioned whether I belonged, when I did not know what to ask, where to go, or how to move forward.”
Lozano said what helped her overcome that was realizing she was not meant to do it alone.
“Through the support of mentors, professors, and programs like the Nāulu Center and Ho‘opūliko Kumu Hou (the secondary teacher education pathway), I found people who guided me, encouraged me, and reminded me that asking for help is part of growth,” she said. “Over time, I learned that strength means allowing others to walk alongside you.”
Among those who have walked alongside Lozano is her mentor, Kumu Cathy Ikeda, professor of middle secondary education field experience and student teaching and director of Ho‘opūliko Kumu Hou.
“Georcelle joined Ho‘opūliko Kumu Hou through our summer bridge program,” Ikeda recalled. “As part of the Title III grant, we sought underclassmen interested in secondary education who also showed the necessary temperament for teaching.”
Ikeda continued, “We intended to hire one or two of these underclassmen to work for the grant, mentoring their peers, and designing Hawaiian culture-based education workshops for current and future education students. Georcelle was our first hire because she immediately demonstrated the ‘ono (passion or desire) that Kumu Hou looks for in potential teacher candidates.”
Successful candidates possess this ‘ono for their students, curriculum, craft, and community, Ikeda noted.
“My Kumu Hou team recognized her ‘ono immediately, making her an exceptional asset to our grant,” she said.
Ikeda added, “Georcelle’s greatest strength, rooted in her ʻono as a teacher, is her ability to immediately reflect and adjust when a lesson or classroom dynamic is not working. … (She) demonstrates a deep understanding of kulana (her role in and out of the classroom), as well as kuleana (responsibility), which enables her to prioritize tasks and meet all deadlines.”
Lozano said that being involved in programs such as Ho‘opūliko Kumu Hou and campus organizations like Hui ‘Ai Pōhaku, an Indigenous students club of which she is the Director of Marketing, has been a meaningful part of her college journey.
“These spaces helped me grow as someone who contributes to building community,” she said. “They taught me that leadership is not about standing in front, but about creating space so others can stand with you.”
‘None of us reach moments like this alone’
Lozano already has a job waiting for her after graduation, having accepted a position at James Campbell High School teaching mathematics starting in fall 2026.
“I want to create a classroom where students feel seen, supported, and capable of success,” she said.
Lozano continued, “After gaining experience in the classroom, I hope to pursue my master’s degree in education. In the long term, my goal is to become a professor of mathematics at the university level here in Hawai‘i. I hope to return to spaces like UH West O‘ahu as someone who can give back, mentor, and support future educators.”
Lozano said UH West O‘ahu prepared her for her post-graduation goals by showing her that education is not only about content, but about people, relationships, and community.
“Through my experiences in UH West O‘ahu’s Secondary Education program, as well as my involvement with campus programs and organizations, I learned that teaching is about understanding students, building trust, and creating environments where they feel they belong,” she said. “This perspective is something I will carry with me into my classroom and beyond.”
In the meantime, Lozano is focused on preparing for the upcoming commencement and what she would like to share with her fellow graduates.
“The main message I hope to share is that while we are often told to be the main character in our own story, none of us reach moments like this alone,” Lozano said. “Along the way, there are always people who stand beside us, the ones who support us, guide us, and remind us to keep going, even when we are unsure of ourselves.”
Lozano said she refers to them as “sidekicks” in her commencement speech.
“Sometimes they are obvious, and sometimes they show up in small, quiet ways, but they are often the reason we make it to where we are today,” Lozano said. “I hope graduates take a moment to recognize those sidekicks in their own lives, and as they move forward, to become that same kind of support for someone else.”
Click here to read more about Madison Nālei Kazue Fujitani, who was also selected to be a 2026 Annual Commencement student speaker. Commencement student speakers were chosen on criteria including academic achievement and a record of meaningful university or community service.
The 2026 Annual Commencement is one of the “50 Acts of Pueo Pride” — events highlighted as part of the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu’s 50th anniversary in 2026.