The Roda Nama: Candelores

Justifiably Proud and Happy Graduate - the red rope is for her commitment to community service

On Friday May 3rd, I had the pleasure of witnessing perhaps the most amazing event I have ever seen. While I was anticipating the usual pomp and circumstance of graduation, I don’t think I could have ever guessed that Nikki's graduation ceremony would be so special and so meaningful.

Candelores and Rodas on the front row

It began in the usual way with speeches and platitudes about the value of education and all of those things. I really appreciated that they introduced each of the PhD students individually and briefly discussed their research before presenting them with degrees. I doubt NYU will do anything like that.

Then they started presenting student awards. Nikki had said something that morning about there being awards given out for academic achievement and professional promise, as well as one that was chosen by the students to honor a fellow student dedicated to "service, empathy, confidence-building, industry and responsibility." When they began to announce these awards, I was just sure that Nikki was going to get one, because she was such an awesome student – how could she not? Alas, the awards went to other students – who most certainly deserved them – but since I am Nikki’s husband I am allowed to be biased.

Then I saw on the program that a “Special Award” was next to be presented. It was unclear what that meant. The Dean began by explaining that the two awards that they school currently gives out were both established in the honor of retiring faculty who had given much of their lives to the School of Information. The school has not instituted a new award for students in 41 years, but decided the time had come.

Rodas anticipate that Nikki might be getting this new special award.

And rather than honor a faculty member, this time they were going to honor a student. A student, who in two short years had done so much for the School of Information that the only way they could think to acknowledge her impact was to create an award in her honor.

At this point, the lights dimmed, and they began a video slide show in homage to Nikki Roda – the first and only student in the history of UM School of Information to have an award established in her honor. The pictures were captioned with quotes from friends and colleagues that highlighted just how special a person Nikki Candelore Roda is.

Fast forward to 1:02:14 to get to the good part

You can also see the commencement video HERE and read a description of the awards – .

If you can't read all the captions in the video, I typed them out for you:

A True Leader

Setting the Pace in the Classroom

SOCHI Officer

A2DataDive Founder

Spirit of Service

Fierce Drive

Intellectual Courage

Innovator

Vibrant

Lasting Legacy

Deep Involvement

Self-Motivated

It is really hard to capture in words just how magical an experience it was. At the end of the video, the entire audience began to cheer loudly. There was a standing ovation from all of the students - as well as their families as Nikki walked up to the stage - It. Was. Amazing.

The honor wasn’t for Nikki’s any particular achievement – although they cited all the work she did for the DataDive, the Student Clubs and Organizations, Alternate Spring Break, and Service Day as examples of ways in which she gave back to the School and the community – no the award wasn’t for any of those accomplishments, it was for being who Nikki is. A person who doesn’t just talk about doing things, but gets them done – whose heart is so full, so generous, and caring that she can’t help herself but to help others when she has the ability and the opportunity.

As she explained in planning the first A2 DataDive – “We have the Skills, We’d be doing something really good for the world, and It would be really cool.”

None of us knew this was coming

The Dean used those same words in introducing Nikki, the first recipient of the Nikki Candelore Roda Student Impact Award. The award not only honors Nikki’s tireless spirit, infectious enthusiasm, and indomitable will to do good, but it reflects the University’s ongoing commitment to community service. The A2 DataDive, which she established (with the help of Claire Barco and Emily Puckett-Rogers) is going to become an annual event sponsored by the University and overseen by the office of student affairs. Her legacy will be felt at UMSI every year as they plan this event, and every spring when they honor a student whose commitment to service warrants special recognition.

After he presented her the award, without any preparation, he asked Nikki to say a few words. She really didn't know this was going to happen; it caught us all by surprise. Most of us were impressed that she was even able to talk at all. Not only did she deliver a speech, but it was touching, eloquent, and on point. She thanked everyone for their support and expressed how meaningful it had been for her to learn from her students and learn to work together. She was humble and gracious. When she finished, there was another instant standing ovation (truncated in the video). Not just from the students, but from all of the students’ family members who didn’t even know who Nikki was before that day. The speeches and the discussions of who Nikki is – not just what she had done - moved everyone in the auditorium to their feet. It was amazing.

This is a heavy honor. One that we don’t take lightly – and so – I think it is hard for Nikki to talk about it herself. But I don’t have any difficulty at all telling you and the entire world that my wife is AMAZING. Everyone loves her, is proud of her, and rejoices in her accomplishments. As someone who has known for a long time just how awesome Nikki is, I am overwhelmed with joy and pride to see her University express a similar level of gratitude and pride. This is perhaps the highest honor they could have possibly bestowed on Nikki – and the highest honor they have ever bestowed on a student. It’s. Just. Incredible. – and there really aren’t sufficient words to describe it.

The Rodas and the Candelores were all in attendance. We had great seats right behind the graduates. And since we were all so overjoyed with the occasion, it’s no surprise that we managed to get some good pictures. Without further ado, here are some of my favorites.