Madeeha Syeda Named 2026 JFK Award Winner and Undergraduate Commencement Speaker
Madeeha Syeda, Class of 2026 graduate, has been named this year’s recipient of the JFK Award for Academic Excellence, the highest honor a UMass Boston undergraduate can receive.
“Being able to make spaces for people to feel like they belong was just very meaningful for me.”
For Madeeha Syeda, nursing is about the connection with patients and building trust during some of the most vulnerable moments in people’s lives. It’s that commitment to care and community, reflected across her academic career and campus involvement, that led to her getting selected as the Class of 2026 John F. Kennedy Award winner.
“I was absolutely flabbergasted, but also just so grateful that people thought of me for this award, and saw what I bring to the table,” Syeda said.
Syeda, a nursing major, will also serve as the undergraduate commencement speaker. The JFK Award is the university’s highest honor for a graduating senior, recognizing academic excellence, leadership, and community service.
Originally from India, Syeda moved to Massachusetts with her family in 2017. At the time, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in healthcare, but nursing was not initially part of her plan. Her perspective shifted after an internship working with children with complex medical and developmental needs.
“I saw that the nurses were doing so much for the kids, getting them through the day, communicating with parents, things like that, and I thought, wow, this looks like the perfect thing for me,” she said. “So that was kind of what sparked my interest in nursing.”
Syeda became involved across campus, taking on roles that emphasized mentorship and community-building. She joined the Muslim Student Association, where she served in leadership positions, and worked as a resident assistant, peer tutor, and student nurse mentor.
After growing up in a less diverse community, Syeda said she found a strong sense of belonging at UMass Boston, something she worked to create for others.
“When I came to UMass Boston, I met so many Muslims and South Asians, and I was like, wow, this makes me feel like I’m back home,” she said.
Through her work as a resident assistant in particular, Syeda focused on creating inclusive spaces where students could connect with one another.
“Being able to make spaces where people feel like they belong has been very meaningful to me,” she said.
That sense of promoting cultural belonging has been an important part of her journey both on and off campus. During a study abroad experience in Morocco, she learned about women’s health issues in the Arab world which helped expand her understanding of how culture can shape healthcare experiences and outcomes.
Her senior thesis focuses on delayed diagnosis and poorer outcomes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in South Asian women, and how culturally responsive care can help address those disparities.
“These experiences have really shaped the kind of nurse, and person, I hope to become,” Syeda said.
Syeda’s work as a tutor and mentor allowed her to support fellow students and build lasting relationships.
“Having that village to support you is important,” Syeda said, “but it's also important to think about how you can be that mentor or that village for somebody else.”
That focus on mentorship and giving back is something Syeda hopes to carry forward in her career.
“We found her to be extremely articulate, [a student] who is truly dedicated to the service of our university, our city, and our world,” wrote the JFK Selection Committee in its recommendation letter.
After graduation, she will begin working as a registered nurse at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the hematology-oncology unit.
“I'm just excited to get in the field and to begin helping people and making a difference in their lives,” she said. “I took this leap of faith, and now I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.”
Looking ahead, Syeda plans to continue her education and hopes to return to UMass Boston in a mentorship role, supporting future nursing students.
As she prepares her commencement address, Syeda said she plans to reflect on the themes that have shaped her experience: gratitude, mentorship, community, and belonging. The full text of the speech is available here.