Shabnam Pahrand, a graduate of Macaulay Honors College at The City College of New York, was named the valedictorian for the Class of 2026, according to an April 2 announcement. Sayyid Yobhel Vasquez Rodriguez, a Hospital Corpsman in the U.S. Navy Reserve and biology major, was selected as salutatorian.
The recognition highlights academic achievement and service among this year’s graduating class. The City College will hold its 173rd Commencement Exercises on May 29 on the South Campus Great Lawn in Manhattan, celebrating approximately 3,542 graduates.
Pahrand is graduating summa cum laude with double majors in philosophy and political science. She has been active as a Colin Powell School International Human Rights Fellow and Stanford Summer Research Fellow. Her work includes research projects on poetry’s role in activist movements and civic engagement at CUNY. She also mentors Afghan refugee students through the Afghan Support Network and volunteers with Riverside Immigration Services to help immigrants learn English.
Nickolas Pappas, a professor at CCNY, said about Pahrand: “Renowned philosophy professor and author Nickolas Pappas ranks Pahrand among the top five students he has taught in more than 30 years at CCNY.” After graduation, she plans to apply for fellowships before pursuing law school focused on human rights law.
Vasquez Rodriguez completed his BS in biology summa cum laude after serving as a medic with the U.S. Navy Reserve. He conducted research on protein–membrane interactions as part of his undergraduate studies and co-authored three scientific articles—two published in leading journals—while working as a research assistant. Professor Themis Lazaridis said: “I am sure that the College has many brilliant graduates. But how many have produced Three First-Author papers in their undergraduate studies? This is extremely rare, not only at CCNY but in the entire country!”
Vasquez Rodriguez also volunteered as a medical scribe and Spanish interpreter at Sure Medical Clinic since 2024 while preparing for medical school applications with aspirations to become an oncologist.
