'Diverse, personal story': ABC News correspondent Ramos delivers Pitt-Johnstown commencement speech to around 400 graduates
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown's 2024-25 class of about 400 graduates were celebrated Saturday with a commencement ceremony at the Pitt-Johnstown Sports Center.
"We entered college during the COVID-19 pandemic," Pitt-Johnstown Student Government Association President Augie Mucci said as he addressed his fellow graduates.
"It wasn't just a transition from high school to college. It forced us to grow up faster than expected – we adapted. We found friends, mentors and purpose in our studies and resilience that we didn't know we had.
Over the past four years, he said, the graduates have grown to become "scientists, engineers, teachers, leaders."
Graduates
Lily Keslar (left), of Latrobe, wears her graduation cap decorated with words "what a wonderful world" as Julia Shima, of Elton, speaks with her at their commencement ceremony Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Pitt-Johnstown's Sports Center. Both Pitt-Johnstown graduates have completed undergraduate studies to become teachers.
"Today, we stand on the edge of another change – careers, graduate school or a pause to catch our breath. Let us not fear change, but embrace it. We've done it before."
A theme of "trusting your future self," and building "lived experience" continued in commencement speaker Stephanie Ramos' address to the graduates.
Ramos is a national correspondent for ABC News, covering presidential administrations of Barack Obama and Donald Trump as well as "many of the critical events that in many ways have marked our lives," Pitt-Johnstown President Jem Spectar said.
Ramos is also a U.S. Army Reserve major who has received medals for her honorable service, including the meritorious service medal.
In 2008, she was a first lieutenant in Iraq, receiving multiple medals. After a year-long deployment, she and her husband returned to Iraq to produce the award-winning documentary "To Baghdad and Back" using footage she captured on a small handheld camcorder.
Ramos
ABC correspondent and U.S. Army Reserve Major Stephanie Ramos delivers the 2025 commencement address at the Pitt-Johnstown Sports Center Saturday May, 3, 2025.
Prior to ABC, Ramos reported for local stations in Kansas City, Missouri, and Topeka, Kansas, where she established herself as a tenacious reporter covering important issues including immigration, politics and crime.
Ramos related her story to the graduates – including the months of persistent attempts to get a foot in the door first, in local TV news and subsequently at ABC.
As she worked her way to becoming a national correspondent, she took different roles in the newsroom.
"I didn't care about title," Ramos said. "I cared about my mission."
After the terror attacks of 9-11, she said she wanted to serve in the U.S. military.
Her deployment was a "shock" and "lonely," she said, "but I signed up for it."
She said she felt her career in the military and in journalism intersected. Her lived experience as a mother and as a Latina woman also intersected with her career.
Ramos said all 340 million people in the United States has a story that needs to be told – "every one of us has a different, diverse, personal story."
She said her experiences made her a better journalist and a better person.
"Every part of you is an asset," she told the graduates. "Don't apologize for any part. Lead with it."
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