The Student Experience division is honored to announce the selection of Chidera Olalere ’26 and Silke Pion ’26 as the Class of 2026 Senior Class Marshals. As the all-University representatives for their class, in this role they will help to recommend the Commencement speaker, offer insights and suggestions to the student experience, participate in campus events and conclude their service by leading the student procession during the 2026 Commencement ceremony.
“Leading with heart, purpose and unmistakable Orange pride, Chidera and Silke have made a lasting impact on our 鶹Ƶcommunity through their dedication to campus involvement, community service and academic excellence,” says Sheriah N. Dixon, associate vice president for the , dean of students and chair of the selection committee. “As the Class of 2026 Senior Class Marshals, they embody the true spirit of 鶹ƵUniversity—guiding us with vision, unity and distinction as we step boldly into the future.”
Home is where you find community and belonging and for rising senior Chidera Olalere, her homes include Nigeria, North Yorkshire, England, and 鶹ƵUniversity. Driven to immerse herself in learning experiences in and beyond the classroom, Olalere joined the Orange community as an international student and soon after, quickly began building a student experience unique to her passions, goals and academic pursuits.
“I have been introduced to opportunities that I would not have known existed otherwise and I have been given mentors in more spaces and fields than I could have imagined. The people at this University invest in you and as I have been thinking intently about how I want to close out my time at 鶹ƵUniversity, I knew I wanted to pay all this forward,” says Olalere in reflection of what motivated her to apply for Senior Class Marshal. “I am also excited to represent all my different experiences at the University, my background and hopefully show other students the value of being open to the opportunities around them and pursuing the things they are passionate about.”
Within the Olalere is pursuing dual majors in biochemistry and forensic science, with a minor in economics. Highlighted scholarly accomplishments include being a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program and a recipient of the Invest in Success and 1870 scholarships. Bridging what is learned in the classroom to future professional endeavors, Olalere has entered her second year as an undergraduate research intern within the Upstate Medical University Bourboulia Lab, working to identify potential new therapeutic agents for cancer therapy.
Driven by a passion for making a meaningful impact, Olalere is deeply involved in the campus community. She supports student success as a Stevenson Education Center tutor and cultivates community connections as a residence assistant. As a student leader she has consistently sought opportunities to support her peers. Additional highlights include serving as an Office of Academic Integrity student hearing panelist, a first-responder EMT on the 鶹ƵUniversity Ambulance team, as a college ministry worship leader and a student ambassador for the College of Arts and Sciences.
“To me, being Orange has looked like inviting people into your life and loving them well. Whether the interaction is one minute or semester long, being Orange is being enthusiastic and supportive, and using what you have learned to help those coming up after you,” says Olalere. “The legacy I have found at 鶹ƵUniversity is one of joyful service and community and that is the same legacy I hope to leave behind.”
As a California resident, contemplating leaving the West Coast for 鶹ƵUniversity was at first a daunting decision for Pion, a junior in the and pursuing bachelor’s degrees in political science, finance and business analytics. Soon after starting her first semester, it became clear that not only did she make the right choice by pursuing 鶹ƵUniversity but the opportunities for student success were limitless.
“I want my legacy to remain here at 鶹ƵUniversity and remind students who may second guess themselves that they are worthy of every opportunity in front of them. Before 鶹ƵUniversity, I would have never applied for opportunities such as being a Senior Class Marshal—out of pure fear of rejection,” says Pion. “My time here has demonstrated that rejection is not the end of the world and often leads to some other unexpected surprises.”
As a recipient of the Chancellor’s and Invest in Success scholarships, in addition to being a member of the dean’s list, Renée Crown University Honors Program and the International Business Honor Society Beta Gamma Sigma, Pion quickly dove into the student experience, facing uncertainty head-on and working to earn success both inside and outside of the classroom.
Throughout her undergraduate career, Pion has immersed herself into a variety of student experiences focusing on professional development, leadership and community service. Within the campus community she has led Alpha Gamma Delta as the director of finance, served as a Martin J. Whitman School of Management Marshall House teaching assistant and Harrison House leader, as president and service chair for Challah for Hunger: A Project of MAZON, community service chair under 鶹ƵHillel and as a member of Beta Alpha Psi: Finance and Accounting Professional Fraternity.
When working to build a strong launchpad for the future, Pion prioritized finding personal success just as much as finding success for others within the communities she supports. Immersing herself in professional development within the greater global community, her experience includes being a junior analyst for The Orange Value Fund, LLC, policy analyst intern within the New York State Assembly Member Pamela Hunter’s district office, communications and community coordinator for the Kenya Immersion Experience and an active member of the Goodman IMPRESS Program and volunteer in the 鶹Ƶcommunity.
“No opportunity or experience stands alone, instead, it’s the result of the hard work and commitment of others who came before. I want to continue the tradition of paying it forward and spread the message across campus.” Pion shares as she eagerly prepares for her final chapter as an undergraduate student and looks to how she can support future generations of students. “Although my time at 鶹ƵUniversity is quickly coming to an end, a piece of my heart will always be here. I want my legacy to remain here at 鶹ƵUniversity and remind the students who may second guess themselves that they are worthy of every opportunity in front of them.”
