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Though they grew up on different continents, Chidera Olalere and Silke Pion said their backgrounds have shaped their time at Syracuse University, helping them find community and thrive far away from home.

The distinct differences in their upbringings and college experiences influenced their outlooks on what it means to “Be Orange” — a central question posed by the 2026 Class Marshal application.

Olalere, from Nigeria, and Pion, from Davis, California, will serve as the university’s 2026 Class Marshals, recognized for their academic excellence, leadership and campus involvement.

“It was really beautiful to write because it was very reflective and just made me realize how much Syracuse means to me,” Pion said. “But, ultimately, I just think it’s a really incredible honor to be able to represent the class.”

Each year, two rising seniors are selected from a group of their peers to work with SU stakeholders to improve the student experience. To become a class marshal, students must submit an essay and interview with the Student Experience division committee.

Sheriah Dixon, dean of students, said during the process, students detail their credentials and backgrounds. Olalere and Pion stood out of her because of their authenticity, she said.

“Their experience coming from different places in terms of who they are, their identities, and being able to weave that into what they’ve done while they’re here is why it is so important for them to be class marshals,” Dixon said.

Olalere and Pion were chosen due to their commitment to academics and citizenship, she said, embodying the spirit of the university.

After hearing about SU through a family friend, Olalere, a double forensic science and biochemistry major, said the connection between the two studies at the university made her realize SU was the “obvious choice” for her.

Since arriving on campus, Olalere said she’s been engaged in a wide range of extracurriculars and academic activities. She’s conducted research at SUNY Upstate Medical University and serves in leadership roles including as a College of Arts & Sciences ambassador, a resident advisor and a tutor with the Stevenson Education Center.

Inge O’Connor, an SU economics professor, said she met Olalere when she was a student in her microeconomics course. Olalere’s strong academic performance and attention to detail made her stand out despite the large class size, she said.

“Chidera is thoughtful, dependable, and deeply committed to service,” O’Connor said in an email to The D.O. “She leads by example, quietly and confidently, with a dedication to both excellence and community.”

Olalere’s mentor, Nancy Rothschild, the A&S senior associate dean of admissions, said Olalere is a dedicated student, maintaining a strong commitment to her schoolwork. She said Olalere keeps a balanced schedule between academic, personal and faculty expectations, highlighting her time management skills.

Rothschild also praised Olalere’s “resilience and adaptability” over the past three years she’s known her.

“Adjusting to a new culture, educational system, and community takes considerable courage, particularly for an international student,” Rothschild said. “(She’s) built a robust academic, professional, and social support network for herself, demonstrating her resilience and adaptability.”

Pion also experienced a cultural shift coming to SU, moving across the United States from the West to the East Coast. She said she discovered SU because of her family’s connections to New York.

After becoming interested in math and finance after learning the impact of the 2008 financial crisis, Pion chose a double major in finance business analytics and political science. She said visualizing data and having a theoretical understanding of the world in its current state is a crucial tool for understanding finance — both of which she’s learned at SU.

Pion, similarly to Olalere, is involved in many activities on campus. She’s a member of the Goodman Leaders Academy, served as a teacher’s assistant in a retail management class, participated in the Orange Value Fund and served as a First Year Seminar peer tutor.

In her freshman year, Pion also joined the Whitman School of Management Student Ambassador program.. There, she met Rachel DuBois, director of Whitman undergraduate recruitment.

DuBois said she’s witnessed Pion’s “remarkable growth” over the past three years, from a reserved freshman to a confident leader. Pion is actively engaged at admission events and goes above and beyond to support prospective students and families, she said.

“She consistently steps up to new challenges, embraces opportunities, and brings a sense of energy and purpose to everything she does.” DuBois said.

In their roles as class marshals, Pion and Olalere said they plan to implement solutions to campus problems using their various experiences around campus. Olalere said she hopes to use her experience as an RA to focus on everyday issues students face in residence halls, dining halls and transportation on campus.

Pion hopes to create more connectivity between colleges on campus, as her cross-college majors have shown a disconnect between the schools. She also hopes to create more sustainability initiatives, building on the current foundation that SU has implemented.

“As I’ve been thinking about closing out my time at Syracuse, just continuing to look for ways to support people,” Olalere said. “It’s a really cool opportunity to represent my graduating class and serve them, or just be a more active member of the university community on a different level.”

Published on April 29, 2025 at 12:18 am
Contact Chloe: cfrinka@syr.edu