For Elifiya Bhimani, an international student from India, the thought of graduation comes with its natural bag of mixed emotions.

Through countless hours of exams, lectures and hard work, Bhimani will finally see it all come to fruition on Dec. 14 as she receives her degree from the University of Houston-Victoria. However, she can’t help but think of her parents, who are halfway across the world.

Bhimani was named the Fall 2024 Outstanding Graduate Student for the UHV College of Business. She will graduate in December with a Master of Accountancy. Alongside Bhimani, Tameka Clarke was named the Outstanding Undergraduate Student and will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in finance.

Rhiannon Smith

"We are so incredibly proud of Elifiya and Tameka for being recognized in our college this semester," said Rhiannon Smith, assistant dean of administration and student services in the UHV College of Business. "Their hard work, dedication and excellence exemplify the highest standards of our academic community. We look forward to seeing the impact they undoubtedly will make in their community."

Each semester, faculty from UHV’s four colleges select outstanding students to be honored during commencement. The university will host three fall commencement ceremonies on Dec. 14 at the Victoria Fine Arts Center, 1002 Sam Houston Drive. The first ceremony begins at 9 a.m. to celebrate graduates from the College of Education & Health Professions. The second ceremony will begin at noon to celebrate the graduates from the College of Business, and the third will begin at 3 p.m. for graduates of the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences and the College of Natural & Applied Science. A live stream of the ceremonies will be available on the UHV Commencement page. 

Elifiya Bhimani

“When I received the news I was an Outstanding Student in my emails, I thought it was spam; and then I checked it again, and I was so happy,” Bhimani said. “I wanted to scream at the top of my voice. I then called my parents, my friends and relatives, and everyone was so proud. I was so proud of myself.”

Originally from Gujarat, a state within India, Bhimani came to the United States in 2021 to pursue higher education. She had previously received her undergraduate degree from Osmania University in Hyderabad, India. Under the recommendation from her sister who lives in the Houston area, Bhimani said she chose to attend UHV after hearing positive feedback from her sister and others who have attended UHV.

“Throughout the years, some of my favorite memories would be the classes, hanging out with friends and the International Festival that the university holds each year,” Bhimani said. “But of course it would have to be the classes. Just getting to interact with each other, get to know each other and connecting on a different intellectual level, that would be my favorite part.”

Her interest in accounting began at an early age, Bhimani said. Growing up, she has always been drawn to the intricacies of taxation and auditing. After graduating, Bhimani said her goal is to become a certified public accountant and eventually specialize in tax planning or advisory services. Currently, she has passed all the sections of the CPA exams but is still waiting on the certification.

"I want to thank all my professors and the university for contributing to my achievements. Their encouragement and teachings have played a big role in my success,” Bhimani said.

She hopes to gain more experience working in the United States and aims to get her certification by next spring, Bhimani said. Besides her academics, Bhimani said her educational journey at UHV has also led to personal growth, as she has become more organized and outgoing.

As December graduations draw closer, despite everything Bhimani has set out to accomplish, she still thinks of her parents who made her dreams possible. Bhimani said she decided to postpone her commencement until next year, when her parents are able to come over to the United States to see her walk across the stage, complete with her gown, degree and all of the fanfare.

"You should never give up on your dreams,” Bhimani said. “You should work very hard to achieve it, put your heart and soul in it, and you should just focus on your goal. Challenge yourself and stay disciplined.”

Originally from Jamaica, Clarke’s educational path took an unexpected turn when she had to postpone her goal of becoming a chef due to health issues. Undeterred, Clarke said she has found a new passion in the field of finance, driven by her interest in financial literacy.

Tameka Clarke

“I don’t think of myself as someone who does anything to stand out,” Clarke said. “Having my friends I’ve made; they kept me going when school got really stressful, and I am so grateful for the professors in some of my courses. I ended up with some great professors, and it helped so much.”

At UHV, Clarke has navigated the ups and downs of college life, often feeling overwhelmed by the workload and her personal struggles. However, she credits her supportive network of friends and the university's disability program for helping her manage her health issues and stay on track.

“The disability program at UHV – Ms. Cheryl – she really helped me out in terms of recommendations with my professors when I was really sick or in the hospital,” Clarke said. “And of course, my professors and friends make it so much easier to navigate college life.”

As Clarke prepares to graduate this December, she is excited about the next chapter of her journey. She plans to transition from her current accounting job to a finance internship this summer, with the ultimate goal of becoming a financial analyst down the line. Later on, she also plans to pursue a master’s degree in finance.

“The school has done so much to help me,” Clarke said. “Without them, I am not sure I would be in the position that I am today.”