Photos often capture moments that become far more precious over time. In this special series, members of the Class of 2026 opened up their camera rolls and shared a favorite Vanderbilt memory they want to keep with them long after Commencement.
Imaad Muwahid
Majors: Economics, Political Science
Syed Ali
Majors: Computer Science, Mathematics and M.S. in Computer Science through the Accelerated B.S./M.S. Program
"An experience I don't want to forget from Vanderbilt is when we went to the Smoky Mountains my freshman year with my friends. This was a great trip because we went to Dollywood. I was terrified of the roller coasters, but I found people like Syed and we had an incredible time," Immad Muwahid said.
"Yah, we had to drag him onto the roller coasters but sometimes you have to push yourself. Dare to grow, right," Syed Ali said, laughing.
Lizzie Tucker
Majors: Computer Science, Political Science
"Something I'm really proud of and that makes me really happy here at Vanderbilt is the pre-professional technology fraternity that I founded with my friends called Kappa Theta Pi. Basically, freshman year in our data structures class, five of us were just like, we really want to stay together after this class and build more of a community around computer science," Lizzie Tucker said.
"This picture is from our first class dinner in 2023. Since then we've grown the frat from about five people to over a hundred! I can't wait to see that community continue on campus, especially with the new College of Connected Computing."
Matthew Oh
Majors: Percussion, Cinema & Media Arts
"This picture is of the Vanderbilt Percussion Studio at Blair School of Music. Everyone in Blair knows these couches as the percussion couches because there's always a percussionist on it," Matthew Oh said.
"Percussion Studio at Blair has been my family since I've gotten to Vanderbilt. We eat together. We rehearse together upwards of five hours every week since my freshman year. And we've been across the world together. We've gone to South Korea. We've gotten to Portugal. But really, those big performance memories are special, but not nearly as special as just the process of creating music with these people and just spending life together for the past four years."
Sally Nwider
Majors: Neuroscience; Medicine, Health & Society
Areeba Alam
Major: Computer Science
"One of our favorite Vanderbilt memories was all the snow days we had on campus. It was sophomore year, and we went to Centennial Park with all our friends and had a snowball fight on Central Lawn. Just seeing campus fully covered with snow was super beautiful," said Sally Nwider and Areeba Alam.
Eigen Escario
Major: Human & Organizational Development
"A great memory that I had on campus was working with the Programs for Talented Youth at Peabody over the summer. I got to get close with a bunch of upcoming high schoolers who were applying to college. It was really fun seeing and reflecting on what it meant to be a Vanderbilt student, not just from living it, but externally, from the people who look up to me, so that was a really cool experience," Eigen Escario said.
Disha Nambiar
Majors: Economics and History
"One of my favorite memories from this year and all of Vanderbilt has been college game day. This is a picture of me, my friend Izzy, who I met on the first day of transfer orientation, and my friend Hannah. And this was a day where I kind of reveled in the fact that I go to a football school. I never thought I'd say those words in my three years here, but one of my favorite things about Vanderbilt has been athletics this year. Seeing the joy of the community and everything that's been wrapped around Vanderbilt has become so exciting to watch," Disha Nambiar said.
Somaiya Monowar
Majors: Biochemistry & Chemical Biology; Communication of Science & Technology
"One of my favorite memories at Vanderbilt, and also something I'm very proud of, is my time with the QuestBridge chapter here on campus," Somaiya Monowar said. "From the moment that I came freshman year until now, serving as a senior adviser has just been so meaningful, and I've met some of my closest, dearest friends from this org and also have built a strong network."
