{"id":64713,"date":"2026-05-12T09:56:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T13:56:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/?p=64713"},"modified":"2026-06-10T09:38:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T13:38:04","slug":"news-2026-commencement-alumni-co%e2%80%91presenters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/2026\/05\/12\/news-2026-commencement-alumni-co%e2%80%91presenters\/","title":{"rendered":"Handed With Love: Five GSDM Alumni Co\u2011Presenters and Graduates are Joyful for Milestone Celebration"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nineteen members of the GSDM Class of 2026 will have a special moment with a loved one on the commencement stage, as their diplomas will co-presented by a family member and fellow GSDM alum.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GSDM allows alumni who are immediate family members (parent, grandparent, sibling, or spouse) of a graduate to co-present the diploma alongside the dean or program chair.<\/span>\u00a0Five\u00a0graduates and their alumni co-presenters\u00a0discussed\u00a0what\u00a0they are\u00a0most\u00a0looking forward to\u00a0on the momentous day.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Graduate:\u00a0<\/span>Kristina Caradonna CAMED 19 DMD 23 ORTHO 26<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>Alumni Co-<\/span>Presenter:\u00a0<\/span>S<\/span>cott Caradonna CAMED 17 DMD 21 ORTHO 24<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Kristina Caradonna has been a Boston University student\u00a0for eight years. She said there is no better way to\u00a0finish her residency\u00a0program\u00a0than having her brother, Scott Caradonna, be her diploma co-presenter.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor our family, this moment goes beyond my\u00a0individual\u00a0achievement<\/span>\u2014<\/span>it\u00a0represents years of shared support, sacrifice, and belief in one another,\u201d Kristina\u00a0said. \u201cHaving Scott present my diploma\u00a0is a reflection of\u00a0how every step of this journey has been shaped by the foundation our family has built.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The day of\u00a0commencement will be\u00a0full of\u00a0mixed emotions for the sibling duo, she said.\u00a0Having overlapped at BU for six years, they are finding it bittersweet to close this chapter\u2014yet\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0delighted to share one final commencement together.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cScott and I have been on the same path for as long as I can remember, the same elementary, middle & high school, same college, master’s program, dental school, and now residency,\u201d Kristina\u00a0said. \u201cIt feels so special to get to share this final moment of a shared journey.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0Kristina\u2019s dream\u00a0to become an orthodontist\u00a0since she was in seventh grade. Scott\u00a0said he has\u00a0watched his sister\u00a0relentlessly work\u00a0towards her goal for\u00a0years. He\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0wait to celebrate her achievements.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt means\u00a0a lot\u00a0to return to\u00a0GSDM\u00a0and co-present Kristina with her diploma,\u201d Scott\u00a0said. \u201cGetting\u00a0to\u00a0welcome her to the orthodontic profession and celebrating her perseverance, resilience, clinical excellence, and years of\u00a0hard work, fills me with so much joy!\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

Graduate: Michael Abou-Ezzi DMD 26<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>Alumni Co-Presenter:\u00a0<\/span>George Abou-Ezzi DMD 90<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n

\u00a0<\/span>Since childhood, Michael Abou-Ezzi has said he wanted to be a dentist like his father, George Abou-Ezzi. He says it is still unfathomable that he is graduating\u00a0from the same dental school as his dad\u2014and even more special that George\u00a0will be co-presenting his diploma.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span><\/b>The feeling is surreal; a moment, u<\/span>p until the day, that I have only dreamt of,\u201d Michael\u00a0said. \u201cThe fact that my dad will now be walking alongside me on the stage, turning that dream into a reality, is going to be a memory I cherish for the rest of my life.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

George\u00a0graduated from GSDM 36 years ago. Being able to be a part of his son\u2019s graduation experience is going to be priceless, he said.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[Co-presenting]\u00a0represents\u00a0a powerful sense of pride and legacy\u00a0where my past and his future come together in a single handshake,\u201d George\u00a0said. \u201cThe overwhelming feeling of fulfillment will come from watching him carry forward and build upon the foundation that shaped us both.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Abou-Ezzi family has even more to be joyful about: Michael Abou-Ezzi’s sister, Monica Abou-Ezzi, is graduating from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine the same day as\u00a0Michael graduates from\u00a0GSDM. Michael\u00a0said the packed day is a true reflection of the family\u2019s collective\u00a0hard work\u00a0toward their dream careers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThursday, May 14 has a whole lot of reasons for our family to be celebrating,\u201d Michael\u00a0said.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

Graduate:\u00a0<\/span>Connor Hartley DMD 26<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>Alumni Co-Presenter:\u00a0<\/span>Ryan Hartley DMD 24<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n

After\u00a0losing their\u00a0parents\u00a0years apart,\u00a0Con<\/span>nor Hartley said he and his three siblings stayed close and leaned on one another for love and support.\u00a0He\u00a0credits his\u00a0older\u00a0brother, Ryan Hartley, and his\u00a0never wavering\u00a0guidance\u00a0as a major\u00a0reason why\u00a0the siblings\u00a0have succeeded in their academic and professional careers.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He said\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0been a long road to\u00a0commencement\u2014one that\u00a0would have been impossible without his loved ones.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cThe\u00a0GSDM\u00a0commencement is a recognition of my achievement, but this hooding ceremony is a recognition of what we overcame and accomplished as a family,\u201d Connor\u00a0said. \u201cI am proud to share this moment with\u00a0[Ryan]\u00a0and my siblings, and I know my parents would be too.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ryan\u00a0said\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0no one more deserving of a doctorate than his brother.\u00a0He\u2019s\u00a0tremendously proud to see Connor\u2019s hard work and perseverance pay off.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLife has dealt more than its fair share of hardship for my family, but we\u2019ve never let one another go through it alone,\u201d Ryan Hartley said. \u201cNavigating life after losing your parents is hard enough, but all while\u00a0maintaining\u00a0the rigors of dental school presents an entirely different array of challenges. To see Connor\u00a0accomplish\u00a0a lifelong goal and overcome adversity is one of the\u00a0proudest\u00a0and\u00a0most\u00a0fulfilling moments of my life.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When\u00a0Connor\u00a0moved to Boston\u00a0for\u00a0his DMD program,\u00a0his only nearby family was\u00a0Ryan\u00a0and\u00a0Ryan’s wife\u00a0Nicole.\u00a0He said the two gave him the love and support he needed\u00a0at the start of dental school.\u00a0It is\u00a0now\u00a0the perfect conclusion to his GSDM journey to have Ryan\u00a0co-present\u00a0his\u00a0diploma.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI started this Boston journey with Ryan, driving from Michigan with him in his overpacked Jeep, and it is only right that he is here with me for the end too,\u201d Connor Hartley said.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

Graduate: Cynthia Zebouni ENDO 26<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>Alumni Co-Presenters:\u00a0<\/span>Elie\u00a0<\/span>Zebouni<\/span>\u00a0PROS 88 DMD 00 and Albert\u00a0<\/span>Zebouni<\/span>\u00a0PROS 23 DMD 25\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n

It\u2019s\u00a0rare\u00a0that a\u00a0father,\u00a0son, and daughter\u00a0all pursue the same career, let alone attend the same higher education institution. The\u00a0Zebouni\u00a0family\u00a0see\u00a0it as the ultimate family bond.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBeing reunited with my family on stage makes this moment even more special,\u201d Cynthia\u00a0said. \u201cI feel proud, honored, and grateful. During the hardest parts of the program, I would picture this moment to keep myself going and now that\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0here,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0incredibly rewarding.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The family is using Cynthia\u2019s\u00a0commencement as a moment to pause\u00a0and reflect on the life-changing experience GSDM gave them.\u00a0Elie, who co-presented\u00a0Albert\u00a0with his degree during the 2025 GSDM commencement, said\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0wonderful\u00a0to return to his alma mater to co-present both his\u00a0children with\u00a0their diplomas.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, it is a deeply symbolic moment\u2014one that reflects both my own journey and the path my children are now forging,\u201d Elie\u00a0said. \u201cI am truly a proud father and a proud\u00a0alumnus of\u00a0GSDM.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After having his father co-present\u00a0his diploma, Albert\u00a0said\u00a0it\u00a0feels surreal to be\u00a0on the other side of this rite of passage.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWatching Cynthia experience the same milestone brings back a lot of pride and memories for me,\u201d Albert\u00a0said. \u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0really special\u00a0for our family to share this tradition together, and\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0grateful to be part of it again from\u00a0a different perspective.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Graduates:\u00a0<\/span>Jasmeen Bhambra DMD 26 and Shaan Bhambra DMD 26<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>Alumni Co-Presenter:\u00a0<\/span>John Bhambra DMD 94 ENDO 07<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
\n

Fraternal twins<\/span><\/a>\u00a0Jess\u00a0and Shaan Bhambra attended\u00a0college separately\u00a0but\u00a0reunited\u00a0at\u00a0GSDM\u00a0for their dental education.\u00a0Their dad, John, said\u00a0it has been a\u00a0great\u00a0four years\u00a0watching\u00a0his children attend\u00a0his alma mater, and he views their commencement day as just the start of a new journey for their family.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cWhen I graduated from BU GSDM in 1994, I never imagined that one day I\u00a0would\u00a0have twins who would choose to follow the same path of dentistry,\u201d John\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0am\u00a0incredibly proud and happy that they did. While their\u00a0journeys to\u00a0earning\u00a0their DMD degrees have been unique, we\u00a0ultimately share\u00a0the same\u00a0destination.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Shaan\u00a0said\u00a0his father\u00a0has been\u00a0an ultimate\u00a0support\u00a0system\u00a0throughout their DMD program. The twins both watched him graduate\u00a0from GSDM\u00a0back in 2007, so it was only fitting to have him co-present\u00a0their diplomas.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a special moment for our family as\u00a0Jasmeen\u00a0and I were in attendance for\u00a0our father\u2019s\u00a0[GSDM]\u00a0commencement,\u201d\u00a0Shaan\u00a0said. \u201cIt certainly feels full circle having him in attendance for\u00a0our\u00a0commencement from the DMD program.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The twins\u00a0may\u00a0be\u00a0going in\u00a0different directions for their residency programs, with\u00a0Shaan continuing at GSDM for an endodontics program and\u00a0Jasmeen\u00a0starting an AEGD program at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine,\u00a0but\u00a0Jasmeen\u00a0said\u00a0the family\u2019s shared passion for dentistry will always keep them close.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGraduating alongside my twin brother after having graduated high school together is a second opportunity to celebrate a big milestone in both our lives,\u201d Jasmeen\u00a0said. \u201cGoing to dental school with my brother has brought us even closer and challenged both of us to improve in many ways.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Photos provided by participants\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Note: This article was updated after Commencement to reflect the final accurate number of co-presenter participants.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

To read our full commencement coverage, please visit\u00a0our\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Commencement 2026 page.<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By\u00a0Rachel Grace Philipson<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nineteen members of the GSDM Class of 2026 will have a special moment with a loved one on the commencement stage, as their diplomas will co-presented by a family member and fellow GSDM alum. Five graduates and their alumni co-presenters discussed what they are most looking forward to on the momentous day. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21998,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13845,13911,13840,13839,13898,13891,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64713"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21998"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64713"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64713\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65075,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64713\/revisions\/65075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64713"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64713"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64713"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}