By Brittney Dunkins

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Gabriel Felder of Stamford had been chosen the George Washington University (GW) 2014 Commencement student speaker by a panel of students, faculty and staff.

Gabriel Felder

A graduate of Stamford’s Bi-Cultural Day School, Felder is president of GW’s Jewish Student Association. He will address friends, family, classmates and faculty on the National Mall during the school’s May 18 ceremony. He was chosen for the honor from among 60 graduating seniors who applied for the spot, with an optimistic speech carrying a universal message: gratitude.

“Commencement is a moment to take a step back and really think about all of the people who helped you get to this point,” said Felder, whose family is a member of Young Israel of Stamford. “It’s about moving on but also taking stock of your life.”

A political communication major in GW’s Columbian College of Arts and Sciences’ School of Media and Public Affairs, Felder was among the 10 finalists representing five schools who delivered their speeches in front of a panel of judges. They were assessed based on content, delivery, student and guest appeal and their ability to inspire others.

“We wanted to choose the student who would best represent GW and the student body and appeal to both the general public and the students,” said judge Adrienne B. Hancock, an assistant professor in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science. “Gabriel had great energy and attitude, and his speech had a very good balance of heart and humor.”

Felder captured the bittersweet nature of graduating from college in his speech, beginning with the first moment he decided to become a GW student during a conversation over ice cream with his father following Colonial Inauguration in 2010. The moment became even more poignant following his father’s death later that summer.

“My family is so important to me, and they are where I draw my inspiration from,” said Felder, who will join Teach for America in New York this fall. “My time at GW is so inspired by that moment. I knew I had to use it as a springboard for the rest of my speech. I hope that my speech can give everyone a feeling of amazement about all of the people who were involved in getting us to this moment.”