[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":356},["ShallowReactive",2],{"/stories/yasmine-moukadam":3,"processed-html-09ef9d8c":331,"processed-html-c8394500":332,"processed-html-ab74a8e8":333,"processed-html-85334970":334,"processed-html-972ac744":335,"processed-html-ec456ba2":336,"processed-html-4c7833de":337,"processed-html-dc9cdc7e":338,"processed-html-bc32dcf6":339,"processed-html-04a8261d":340,"processed-html-ff4036b3":341,"processed-html-e32408be":342,"processed-html-e0efc061":343,"processed-html-9e726b65":344,"processed-html-a559b967":345,"processed-html-f0fb3990":346,"processed-html-d7300339":347,"processed-html-0daceb76":348,"processed-html-496c1d06":349,"processed-html-e17c9ec7":350,"processed-html-0d9fe786":351,"processed-html-5c3081b8":352,"processed-html-4d6bdc3b":353,"processed-html-6abf25ae":354,"processed-html-9a053918":355},{"id":4,"type":5,"path":6,"published":7,"publishDate":8,"author":9,"taxonomy":10,"headerType":13,"image":14,"video":18,"title":20,"subtitle":21,"hideFromSearchEngines":11,"social":22,"bodyBlocks":26,"slug":281,"description":282,"metaDescription":283,"metaTitle":11,"relatedStories":284,"created":320,"changed":321,"breadcrumbs":322},"fd7c489c-0f03-4d7d-b898-79a7d5a239cd","story","stories/yasmine-moukadam",true,"May 8, 2026","Ross Bishoff",{"name":11,"slug":12},null,"","image",{"url":15,"alt":16,"caption":17},"https://editing.intcomm.osu.edu/sites/default/files/styles/widescreen/public/media/image/2026/05/yasmine_1_hero.jpg","Yasmine Moukadam","Graduating senior Yasmine Moukadam, who'll be heading to U.S. Naval postgraduate school after commencement, had a tremendous experience at the university. \"Ohio State just produces the best of the best. Oh yeah, it has my whole heart. I love this place,\" she said. \u2029 (Corey Wilson)",{"url":11,"transcript":19},{"text":11},"Yasmine Moukadam: The sky is no limit","Far from home, Yasmine’s piloting dreams took flight at Ohio State ",{"title":23,"description":24,"imageUrl":25},"From Campus Visit to Naval Aviator: Yasmine’s Ohio State Journey","Yasmine Moukadam came to Ohio State from across the world and found the support, opportunity and confidence to pursue her dream of becoming a U.S. Navy pilot.","https://editing.intcomm.osu.edu/sites/default/files/media/image/2026/05/yasminemoukadam_social.jpg",[27,34,52,58,64,70,76,122,130,136,142,148,154,164,170,176,182,188,194,200,206,212,224,230,236,245,251,257,263,269],{"blockName":28,"attrs":29,"innerBlocks":31,"innerHTML":32,"innerContent":33},"core/paragraph",{"uuid":30},"09ef9d8c",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Yasmine Moukadam’s dreams are sky high, literally.\u003C/p>",[32],{"blockName":35,"attrs":36,"innerBlocks":38,"innerHTML":48,"innerContent":49},"sidebar-content/did-you-know-sidebar",{"uuid":37},"8b122252",[39],{"blockName":40,"attrs":41,"innerBlocks":45,"innerHTML":46,"innerContent":47},"media-text/bux-factoid",{"statistic":42,"label":43,"uuid":44},"1.4K","Ohio State has more than 1,400 student organizations, providing a wide-range of activities for our student body","75cc2f5c",[],"\u003Cdiv class=\"bux-factoid\">\u003Cdiv class=\"bux-factoid__item\">\u003Cdiv class=\"bux-factoid__stat\">1.4K\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv class=\"bux-factoid__text\">Ohio State has more than 1,400 student organizations, providing a wide-range of activities for our student body\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003C/div>",[46],"\u003Caside class=\"wp-block-sidebar-content-did-you-know-sidebar did-you-know-sidebar\">\u003C/aside>",[50,11,51],"\u003Caside class=\"wp-block-sidebar-content-did-you-know-sidebar did-you-know-sidebar\">","\u003C/aside>",{"blockName":28,"attrs":53,"innerBlocks":55,"innerHTML":56,"innerContent":57},{"uuid":54},"c8394500",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">And one day when she is piloting a massive P8 Poseidon plane as a United States Naval Aviator, it will have come from a tireless journey that began at Ohio State. Yasmine graduates Sunday with a degree in \u003Ca href=\"https://engineering.osu.edu/bachelor-science-aviation\" class=\"bux-link\">aviation engineering\u003C/a> and will commission through the Naval ROTC as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy.\u003C/p>",[56],{"blockName":28,"attrs":59,"innerBlocks":61,"innerHTML":62,"innerContent":63},{"uuid":60},"ab74a8e8",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">She’ll then attend Naval postgraduate school in Monterey, California before moving on to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, for flight school.\u003C/p>",[62],{"blockName":28,"attrs":65,"innerBlocks":67,"innerHTML":68,"innerContent":69},{"uuid":66},"85334970",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">But what landed her at Ohio State is far from typical, considering she had never even heard of Ohio State until her junior year of high school. Born in Washington, D.C. and attending high school in England, a conversation with a family friend – \u003Ca href=\"https://battellecenter.osu.edu/people/kevin-cullen\" class=\"bux-link\">retired Colonel Kevin Cullen\u003C/a> – introduced her to Ohio State.\u003C/p>",[68],{"blockName":28,"attrs":71,"innerBlocks":73,"innerHTML":74,"innerContent":75},{"uuid":72},"972ac744",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">From there, she took a visit to the Columbus campus. In Yasmine’s words, that’s all it took.\u003C/p>",[74],{"blockName":77,"attrs":78,"innerBlocks":81,"innerHTML":119,"innerContent":120},"core/columns",{"className":79,"uuid":80},"omc-mar-bottom-sp-16","cab7b489",[82,105],{"blockName":83,"attrs":84,"innerBlocks":86,"innerHTML":101,"innerContent":102},"core/column",{"uuid":85},"0cd468a8",[87],{"blockName":88,"attrs":89,"innerBlocks":98,"innerHTML":99,"innerContent":100},"core/image",{"id":90,"sizeSlug":91,"linkDestination":92,"mediaAttrs":93,"uuid":97},4680,"full","none",{"data-entity-type":94,"data-entity-uuid":95,"data-image-style":96},"file","b34183ce-c5bb-4eb1-a30d-31cedf532712","original","eb4d6c1c",[],"\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003Cimg src=\"/sites/default/files/inline-images/yasmine_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4680\" data-entity-type=\"file\" data-entity-uuid=\"b34183ce-c5bb-4eb1-a30d-31cedf532712\" data-image-style=\"original\"/>\u003Cfigcaption>Ohio State student Yasmine Moukadam pilots an Osprey with a U.S. Navy pilot last summer. (Ohio State) \u003C/figcaption>\u003C/figure>",[99],"\u003Cdiv class=\"bux-grid__cell bux-grid__cell--12 bux-grid__cell--auto@lg undefinedwp-block-column\">\u003C/div>",[103,11,104],"\u003Cdiv class=\"bux-grid__cell bux-grid__cell--12 bux-grid__cell--auto@lg undefinedwp-block-column\">","\u003C/div>",{"blockName":83,"attrs":106,"innerBlocks":108,"innerHTML":101,"innerContent":118},{"uuid":107},"9dd09b89",[109],{"blockName":88,"attrs":110,"innerBlocks":115,"innerHTML":116,"innerContent":117},{"id":111,"sizeSlug":91,"linkDestination":92,"mediaAttrs":112,"uuid":114},4681,{"data-entity-type":94,"data-entity-uuid":113,"data-image-style":96},"a9360408-ee03-4aae-bdbf-6444b03265f3","2fae1740",[],"\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003Cimg src=\"/sites/default/files/inline-images/yasmine_3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4681\" data-entity-type=\"file\" data-entity-uuid=\"a9360408-ee03-4aae-bdbf-6444b03265f3\" data-image-style=\"original\"/>\u003Cfigcaption>Moukadam will be attending Naval Postgraduate School after her Ohio State graduation. (Ohio State)\u003C/figcaption>\u003C/figure>",[116],[103,11,104],"\u003Cdiv class=\"bux-grid wp-block-columns omc-mar-bottom-sp-16\">\u003C/div>",[121,11,11,104],"\u003Cdiv class=\"bux-grid wp-block-columns omc-mar-bottom-sp-16\">",{"blockName":123,"attrs":124,"innerBlocks":127,"innerHTML":128,"innerContent":129},"core/heading",{"className":125,"uuid":126},"noTopMargin","ec456ba2",[],"\u003Ch2 class=\"bux-h2 noTopMargin\">‘I fell in love with it’\u003C/h2>",[128],{"blockName":28,"attrs":131,"innerBlocks":133,"innerHTML":134,"innerContent":135},{"uuid":132},"4c7833de",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“The second I walked on to campus, seeing the ’Shoe, the buildings, all the students and the Union, I ran into Brutus, it was awesome. Some people let us into the football stadium, the biggest stadium in the country and I got to walk on the field. It was really cool. I know it’s corny, but honestly, it was love at first sight. I didn’t want to see any other campus, I told my dad, this is my dream school.”\u003C/p>",[134],{"blockName":123,"attrs":137,"innerBlocks":139,"innerHTML":140,"innerContent":141},{"uuid":138},"dc9cdc7e",[],"\u003Ch2 class=\"bux-h2\">‘But that first year was rough’\u003C/h2>",[140],{"blockName":28,"attrs":143,"innerBlocks":145,"innerHTML":146,"innerContent":147},{"uuid":144},"bc32dcf6",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“When I started here, I was 17 years old, coming straight from Europe to a 66,000-student campus. My graduating class was maybe 25 kids. I just grew up in very different experiences. And I was homesick. I went from seeing my parents every single day to never seeing them.\u003C/p>",[146],{"blockName":28,"attrs":149,"innerBlocks":151,"innerHTML":152,"innerContent":153},{"uuid":150},"04a8261d",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“I was my class salutatorian. But so were 500 other kids here. But the main reason I came here was I wanted to go somewhere that would push me to become better, with the space, the resources, the opportunities to do so. And this is that place.”\u003C/p>",[152],{"blockName":88,"attrs":155,"innerBlocks":161,"innerHTML":162,"innerContent":163},{"align":156,"id":157,"sizeSlug":91,"linkDestination":92,"mediaAttrs":158,"uuid":160},"wide",4677,{"data-entity-type":94,"data-entity-uuid":159,"data-image-style":96},"2977d1fd-cf7d-47ef-aa09-6d717da58640","c3206c86",[],"\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\">\u003Cimg src=\"/sites/default/files/inline-images/yasmine_4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4677\" data-entity-type=\"file\" data-entity-uuid=\"2977d1fd-cf7d-47ef-aa09-6d717da58640\" data-image-style=\"original\"/>\u003Cfigcaption>Yasmine Moukadam ’26 (center), shown with her close friends and fellow ROTC members Marielis Rodriguez (left) and Bailee McCollum take a selfie with a Mirror Lake backdrop as they spend an afternoon capturing grad photos. (Corey Wilson)\u003C/figcaption>\u003C/figure>",[162],{"blockName":123,"attrs":165,"innerBlocks":167,"innerHTML":168,"innerContent":169},{"uuid":166},"ff4036b3",[],"\u003Ch2 class=\"bux-h2\">‘The people truly make this place’\u003C/h2>",[168],{"blockName":28,"attrs":171,"innerBlocks":173,"innerHTML":174,"innerContent":175},{"uuid":172},"e32408be",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“That first year, I joined the rowing team, and it was a huge learning experience for me. It was good to branch out of ROTC. I would go to clubs like Bucks for Baking or the Gymnastics Club. I’d find friends at dining halls and it made a huge difference.\u003C/p>",[174],{"blockName":28,"attrs":177,"innerBlocks":179,"innerHTML":180,"innerContent":181},{"uuid":178},"e0efc061",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“I got so involved in Greek life and it truly helped me like crack out of my shell a lot. I used to be pretty shy. But Greek life was amazing.\u003C/p>",[180],{"blockName":28,"attrs":183,"innerBlocks":185,"innerHTML":186,"innerContent":187},{"uuid":184},"9e726b65",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“Just putting myself out there. Clubs, events, Ohio State's doing something every day for the students, just meeting people and they become your friend.”\u003C/p>",[186],{"blockName":123,"attrs":189,"innerBlocks":191,"innerHTML":192,"innerContent":193},{"uuid":190},"a559b967",[],"\u003Ch2 class=\"bux-h2\">‘What helped was my major, for sure’\u003C/h2>",[192],{"blockName":28,"attrs":195,"innerBlocks":197,"innerHTML":198,"innerContent":199},{"uuid":196},"f0fb3990",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“Not many universities have this major (aviation engineering). And few have an airport, a renowned airport. \u003Ca href=\"https://osuairport.org/\" class=\"bux-link\">The OSU Airport \u003C/a>sees famous people and so many airlines operating out of it every single day. And the college is always bringing in people to talk to students. Even if I weren’t going the military route, I’d have no problem finding a job. That’s what I love about Ohio State, it sets you up for success.\u003C/p>",[198],{"blockName":28,"attrs":201,"innerBlocks":203,"innerHTML":204,"innerContent":205},{"uuid":202},"d7300339",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“And it's like, are the professors phenomenal? Yes. It’s insane how much knowledge and experience they have. But they get to know you on a personal level. Every single one of the professors knows my dreams and they're always making themselves available for whatever I need. I don't think every university has that.”\u003C/p>",[204],{"blockName":123,"attrs":207,"innerBlocks":209,"innerHTML":210,"innerContent":211},{"uuid":208},"0daceb76",[],"\u003Ch2 class=\"bux-h2\">‘The Presidential Host program has been one to remember’\u003C/h2>",[210],{"blockName":88,"attrs":213,"innerBlocks":221,"innerHTML":222,"innerContent":223},{"align":214,"id":215,"width":216,"height":217,"sizeSlug":91,"linkDestination":92,"mediaAttrs":218,"uuid":220},"right",4678,319,240,{"data-entity-type":94,"data-entity-uuid":219,"data-image-style":96},"cfbb1f4f-5c20-423d-9090-744ecec91f84","e7c2016f",[],"\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\">\u003Cimg src=\"/sites/default/files/inline-images/yasmine_5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4678\" width=\"319\" height=\"240\" data-entity-type=\"file\" data-entity-uuid=\"cfbb1f4f-5c20-423d-9090-744ecec91f84\" data-image-style=\"original\"/>\u003Cfigcaption>Yasmine Moukadam served as a presidential host at Ohio State. (Ohio State)\u003C/figcaption>\u003C/figure>\u003C/div>",[222],{"blockName":28,"attrs":225,"innerBlocks":227,"innerHTML":228,"innerContent":229},{"uuid":226},"496c1d06",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“That program has helped me so much. Meeting so many different people. It’s incredible, deans and provosts. What university lets you be in the press box during football games to be with the president of your university? Meeting CEOs, major political figures and you’re getting paid? I’d never even get close to meeting people like that without being a presidential host.\u003C/p>",[228],{"blockName":28,"attrs":231,"innerBlocks":233,"innerHTML":234,"innerContent":235},{"uuid":232},"e17c9ec7",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“My friends are all like, how are you doing all this? And I just say, you gotta go to Ohio State.”\u003C/p>",[234],{"blockName":88,"attrs":237,"innerBlocks":242,"innerHTML":243,"innerContent":244},{"align":156,"id":238,"sizeSlug":91,"linkDestination":92,"mediaAttrs":239,"uuid":241},4679,{"data-entity-type":94,"data-entity-uuid":240,"data-image-style":96},"b7096944-9199-4dfc-965e-b3db49c87d98","e53e5c41",[],"\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\">\u003Cimg src=\"/sites/default/files/inline-images/yasmine_6.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4679\" data-entity-type=\"file\" data-entity-uuid=\"b7096944-9199-4dfc-965e-b3db49c87d98\" data-image-style=\"original\"/>\u003Cfigcaption>Yasmine Moukadam ’26, shown with her close friends and fellow ROTC members Marielis Rodriguez, left, and Bailee McCollum (also her roomate) stroll past Thompson Library as they spend an afternoon capturing grad photos. (Ohio State)\u003C/figcaption>\u003C/figure>",[243],{"blockName":123,"attrs":246,"innerBlocks":248,"innerHTML":249,"innerContent":250},{"uuid":247},"0d9fe786",[],"\u003Ch2 class=\"bux-h2\">‘I am truly so proud to be a Buckeye’\u003C/h2>",[249],{"blockName":28,"attrs":252,"innerBlocks":254,"innerHTML":255,"innerContent":256},{"uuid":253},"5c3081b8",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“Not many other students can say their university even offers what we do. I did a study abroad trip to Brazil for free and it was incredible. I had no idea Brazil had such a huge role in the evolution of aviation.\u003C/p>",[255],{"blockName":28,"attrs":258,"innerBlocks":260,"innerHTML":261,"innerContent":262},{"uuid":259},"4d6bdc3b",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“What makes me so proud to be a Buckeye, you’re in Brazil, or France, and you see someone wearing Ohio State and you ‘O-H’ them and they immediately give you the ‘I-O’. I was in Tennessee and saw like five Ohio State people in 48 hours. In Florida I saw Ohio State bumper stickers on Florida plates. Truly, we’re everywhere. You just get this intense pride from our alumni network.\u003C/p>",[261],{"blockName":28,"attrs":264,"innerBlocks":266,"innerHTML":267,"innerContent":268},{"uuid":265},"6abf25ae",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“Ohio State just produces the best of the best. Oh yeah, it has my whole heart. I love this place.” \u003C/p>",[267],{"blockName":270,"attrs":271,"innerBlocks":278,"innerHTML":279,"innerContent":280},"media-text/story-cta",{"heading":272,"cta_body":273,"cta_text":274,"cta_aria_label":275,"cta_href":276,"uuid":277},"Spring Commencement 2026","Commencement at The Ohio State University is a festive and joyous occasion at which family and guests are welcome to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduating class.","Read more","Read more about Ohio State's spring commencement","https://commencement.osu.edu/","9a053918",[],"\u003Cdiv class=\"story-cta center\">\u003Ch2 class=\"story-cta__heading\"> \u003Cspan>Spring Commencement 2026\u003C/span> \u003C/h2>\u003Cdiv class=\"story-cta__body\">\u003Cspan>Commencement at The Ohio State University is a festive and joyous occasion at which family and guests are welcome to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduating class.\u003C/span>\u003C/div>\u003Ca href=\"https://commencement.osu.edu/\" class=\"bux-button bux-button--alt\" arial-label=\"Read more about Ohio State's spring commencement\" style=\"display:inline-flex\">\u003Cspan>\u003Cspan>Read more\u003C/span>\u003C/span>\u003C/a>\u003C/div>",[279],"yasmine-moukadam","From England to Columbus, Yasmine Moukadam found opportunity, belonging and purpose at Ohio State — launching her path to naval aviation through academics, leadership and Buckeye connections.","Yasmine Moukadam’s Ohio State experience — from aviation engineering to ROTC and leadership opportunities — prepared her for service as a U.S. Navy aviator and a life of purpose.",[285,297,308],{"slug":286,"path":287,"title":288,"description":289,"subtitle":11,"taxonomy":290,"image":291,"video":294,"hideFromSearchEngines":11,"hasVideo":296},"samuel-cortes","stories/samuel-cortes","Samuel Cortes: Undergrad research led to valuable experiences","Biomedical science student Samuel Cortes turned undergraduate research at Ohio State into global opportunities, gaining mentorship, skills and real‑world impact while preparing for a future PhD and a career advancing medical research.\r\n",{"name":11,"slug":12},{"url":292,"alt":293},"https://editing.intcomm.osu.edu/sites/default/files/media/image/2026/04/samcortes_crop.jpg","Ohio State student Samuel Cortes poses for a selfie with ruins in the background",{"url":11,"transcript":295},{"text":11},false,{"slug":298,"path":299,"title":300,"description":301,"subtitle":11,"taxonomy":302,"image":303,"video":306,"hideFromSearchEngines":11,"hasVideo":296},"kalyna-kulchytsky","stories/kalyna-kulchytsky","Kalyna Kulchytsky: On the fast track to vet school","Ohio State student Kalyna Kulchytsky accelerates her path to veterinary school, combining rigorous academics, hands-on research and service to address national veterinarian shortages and advance animal and human health.",{"name":11,"slug":12},{"url":304,"alt":305},"https://editing.intcomm.osu.edu/sites/default/files/media/image/2026/04/kalyna1.jpg","An Ohio State student stands with a horse in a stable.",{"url":11,"transcript":307},{"text":11},{"slug":309,"path":310,"title":311,"description":312,"subtitle":313,"taxonomy":314,"image":315,"video":318,"hideFromSearchEngines":11,"hasVideo":296},"research-expenditures","stories/research-expenditures","Internships, discoveries and more","Ohio State’s record research investments fuel real‑world breakthroughs — from advanced battery manufacturing internships and VR language learning to a new vaccine protecting newborn piglets — showcasing how innovation translates into workforce development and community impact.","Here's what happens when an institution increases its investment in research and innovation",{"name":11,"slug":12},{"url":316,"alt":317},"https://editing.intcomm.osu.edu/sites/default/files/media/image/2026/03/battery_hero.jpg","A student works in Ohio State's BATTERI laboratory",{"url":11,"transcript":319},{"text":11},"2026-05-07T14:42:48+00:00","2026-05-08T17:24:35+00:00",[323,326,329],{"title":324,"path":325},"Home","/",{"title":327,"path":328},"Stories","/stories",{"title":20,"path":330},"/stories/yasmine-moukadam","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Yasmine Moukadam’s dreams are sky high, literally.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">And one day when she is piloting a massive P8 Poseidon plane as a United States Naval Aviator, it will have come from a tireless journey that began at Ohio State. Yasmine graduates Sunday with a degree in \u003Ca href=\"https://engineering.osu.edu/bachelor-science-aviation\" class=\"bux-link\">aviation engineering\u003C/a> and will commission through the Naval ROTC as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">She’ll then attend Naval postgraduate school in Monterey, California before moving on to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, for flight school.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">But what landed her at Ohio State is far from typical, considering she had never even heard of Ohio State until her junior year of high school. Born in Washington, D.C. and attending high school in England, a conversation with a family friend – \u003Ca href=\"https://battellecenter.osu.edu/people/kevin-cullen\" class=\"bux-link\">retired Colonel Kevin Cullen\u003C/a> – introduced her to Ohio State.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">From there, she took a visit to the Columbus campus. In Yasmine’s words, that’s all it took.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Ch2 class=\"bux-h2 noTopMargin\">‘I fell in love with it’\u003C/h2>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“The second I walked on to campus, seeing the ’Shoe, the buildings, all the students and the Union, I ran into Brutus, it was awesome. Some people let us into the football stadium, the biggest stadium in the country and I got to walk on the field. It was really cool. I know it’s corny, but honestly, it was love at first sight. I didn’t want to see any other campus, I told my dad, this is my dream school.”\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Ch2 class=\"bux-h2\">‘But that first year was rough’\u003C/h2>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“When I started here, I was 17 years old, coming straight from Europe to a 66,000-student campus. My graduating class was maybe 25 kids. I just grew up in very different experiences. And I was homesick. I went from seeing my parents every single day to never seeing them.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“I was my class salutatorian. But so were 500 other kids here. But the main reason I came here was I wanted to go somewhere that would push me to become better, with the space, the resources, the opportunities to do so. And this is that place.”\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Ch2 class=\"bux-h2\">‘The people truly make this place’\u003C/h2>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“That first year, I joined the rowing team, and it was a huge learning experience for me. It was good to branch out of ROTC. I would go to clubs like Bucks for Baking or the Gymnastics Club. I’d find friends at dining halls and it made a huge difference.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“I got so involved in Greek life and it truly helped me like crack out of my shell a lot. I used to be pretty shy. But Greek life was amazing.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“Just putting myself out there. Clubs, events, Ohio State's doing something every day for the students, just meeting people and they become your friend.”\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Ch2 class=\"bux-h2\">‘What helped was my major, for sure’\u003C/h2>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“Not many universities have this major (aviation engineering). And few have an airport, a renowned airport. \u003Ca href=\"https://osuairport.org/\" class=\"bux-link\">The OSU Airport \u003C/a>sees famous people and so many airlines operating out of it every single day. And the college is always bringing in people to talk to students. Even if I weren’t going the military route, I’d have no problem finding a job. That’s what I love about Ohio State, it sets you up for success.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“And it's like, are the professors phenomenal? Yes. It’s insane how much knowledge and experience they have. But they get to know you on a personal level. Every single one of the professors knows my dreams and they're always making themselves available for whatever I need. I don't think every university has that.”\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Ch2 class=\"bux-h2\">‘The Presidential Host program has been one to remember’\u003C/h2>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“That program has helped me so much. Meeting so many different people. It’s incredible, deans and provosts. What university lets you be in the press box during football games to be with the president of your university? Meeting CEOs, major political figures and you’re getting paid? I’d never even get close to meeting people like that without being a presidential host.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“My friends are all like, how are you doing all this? And I just say, you gotta go to Ohio State.”\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Ch2 class=\"bux-h2\">‘I am truly so proud to be a Buckeye’\u003C/h2>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“Not many other students can say their university even offers what we do. I did a study abroad trip to Brazil for free and it was incredible. I had no idea Brazil had such a huge role in the evolution of aviation.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“What makes me so proud to be a Buckeye, you’re in Brazil, or France, and you see someone wearing Ohio State and you ‘O-H’ them and they immediately give you the ‘I-O’. I was in Tennessee and saw like five Ohio State people in 48 hours. In Florida I saw Ohio State bumper stickers on Florida plates. Truly, we’re everywhere. You just get this intense pride from our alumni network.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“Ohio State just produces the best of the best. Oh yeah, it has my whole heart. I love this place.” \u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cdiv class=\"story-cta center\">\u003Ch2 class=\"story-cta__heading\"> \u003Cspan>Spring Commencement 2026\u003C/span> \u003C/h2>\u003Cdiv class=\"story-cta__body\">\u003Cspan>Commencement at The Ohio State University is a festive and joyous occasion at which family and guests are welcome to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduating class.\u003C/span>\u003C/div>\u003Ca href=\"https://commencement.osu.edu/\" class=\"bux-button bux-button--alt\" arial-label=\"Read more about Ohio State's spring commencement\" style=\"display:inline-flex\">\u003Cspan>\u003Cspan>Read more\u003C/span>\u003C/span>\u003C/a>\u003C/div>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>",1778261312411]