An Undeniable Hope

University President Ed Feasel invited the students, who had in a sense come of age with the university, to view the currents of history in the same, forward-looking manner, with the spirit to never be bowed by the harsh realities of life.

“If we look at any 20-year period over the last century, the period would, in varying degrees, show both incredible advancements in society and, unfortunately, tremendous tragedy,” he said. “As history has taught us, there is no doubt the next 20 years will also see tremendous change. Given this expectation, you are all the hope of humanity who all desire peace.”

‘Everything starts with you.’

During the commencement ceremony, actor and humanitarian Orlando Bloom delivered the keynote address (see an excerpt on p. 8).

Mr. Bloom, who rose to international fame for his roles in the iconic film franchises The Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean, has used his platform to advocate for humanitarian causes worldwide, including the protection of children’s rights in conflict.

Mr. Bloom offered his sincerest thanks for the privilege of joining the SUA community on its special occasion. Incidentally, it wasn’t his first time on the campus. He recalled visiting SUA in 2004 to film the Cameron Crowe film Elizabethtown.

Even though he remembered the campus back then as shiny and new, he said, “I am sure the bright minds of the students, such as yourselves, who have walked through these grounds over the past 21 years have no doubt added to its charm and character.” 

And he encouraged the graduates to find a philosophy or practice to guide them, in the same way that practicing Buddhism became his own vital compass. “Here is what I learned: Everything starts with you,” he continued. “Your inner life matters, profoundly. It’s important to develop strong instincts—knowing, in each circumstance, what is required to create your own joyful and fulfilling life.”

A universal language of peace

Ahead of the ceremony, on May 8, President Feasel conferred the Soka Global Citizen Award—SUA’s highest award of honor—on jazz titan and global humanitarian Herbie Hancock, for his six-decade journey as a musical innovator and cultural bridge-builder.

As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue, Hancock spearheads International Jazz Day as a way to unite artists and audiences worldwide to celebrate jazz as a universal language of peace. He also continues to promote cross-cultural collaboration and inspire emerging generations as the chairperson of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz.

Daisaku Ikeda established Soka University of America on May 3, 2001, as a four-year, nonsectarian, nondenominational undergraduate liberal arts school grounded in the humanistic ideals of Soka, or value-creating education. Its foundational mission: to “foster a steady stream of global citizens committed to living a contributive life.”

In 2021, SUA marked its 20th anniversary as a liberal arts institution that champions education for global citizenship by naming its undergraduate program Daisaku Ikeda College. The university’s board of trustees also established the Daisaku Ikeda Endowed Chair to support faculty excellence—the first of its kind for the school.

‘We are ready.’

The ceremony concluded with representatives of the graduating class taking the stage to tell their stories.

Felipe Ken Iti Iwahashi da Silva, of São Paulo, Brazil, speaking on behalf of the graduate class, the self-styled “Big Hero Six,” said they were inspired by the unshakable belief of Soka education founder Tsunesaburo Makiguchi that the purpose of education is to enable children to become happy. 

“As immigrants in this beautiful country,” he said, “we understand, perhaps better than anyone, the importance of the value and the positive impact we bring to our community.”

Then, representing the undergraduate class, Marina Inoue, of Vladivostok, Russia, spoke of how traveling home became difficult amid the war, and her classmates became her lifeline. “While I could not share important events in my youngest brothers’ and parents’ lives, I made an effort to be there for many of my SUA friends,” she said. “All of you became my family and the campus, my home.”

Ayu Nakazaki, of Honolulu, shared how, at SUA, she learned that “even amid grief and loss, human beings have the radical ability to create joy where none seems possible and to illuminate hope for an entire community as we set out into the world.”

Jordan Bravo, of Victorville, California, “a proud Chicano and even prouder son of immigrant parents” addressed his classmates as the first in his family to graduate from a four-year university.

“Let us carry everything we’ve learned here,” he said, “and lead with the values that brought us to this very moment. So when the world asks who we are, may we answer boldly: We are the Class of 2025. We are the stories no one expected and the hope no one can deny. We are not broken by struggle. We are built by it. And we are ready.”

Finally, the recipient of the 2025 Founder’s Award was named: Julia Miyagawa Braga.

The institution’s highest honor is bestowed upon a graduating senior who exemplifies the university’s core ideals through outstanding academic achievement, dedicated service and leadership that reflects the humanistic principles established by the founder, Daisaku Ikeda.

In receiving the award, Braga took a moment to find the words for what she felt.

“What I know is that I care about SUA so deeply, and about all of you,” she said. “What I know is that everything I’ve ever done at SUA was done with people. To my Soka family, I dedicate this award—to everyone of the Class of 2025—to us.”

June 6, 2025 World Tribune, pp. 6–7