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An Explorer of Language and Culture
Mikayla (Kaza) Dayton ‘25, inspired by childhood heroes and personal trials, graduates with a vision for unity through education
University News | May 12, 2025
As a young girl, Kaza Dayton was captivated by the adventures of Dora the Explorer. While many children simply enjoyed the show’s catchy songs and animated characters, Kaza saw something more—a world beyond her own, one where language, culture, and curiosity held the keys to connection and understanding. Little did she know, those early mornings spent with Dora and her trusty sidekick Boots would help shape a future rooted in exploration, education, and empathy. 
This month, Kaza graduates from Virginia Wesleyan University with a degree in Hispanic Studies and a minor in Theatre, completing her studies in just three years as a member of the highly-selective Batten Honors College. A first-generation college student, she has built a legacy defined by academic excellence, cultural curiosity, and campus involvement—all while overcoming extraordinary personal challenges.
“I really have a passion for the environment,” says Kaza. “I looked at a lot of honors programs, and no other could match the Batten Honors College in terms of creating such a community of like-minded students focused on environment, leadership, and community service.”
Kaza discovered VWU through two high school classmates who had also chosen the University, but it was the mission of the Batten Honors College that drew her in—and the campus itself that sealed the deal. “I love this campus. Honestly, I love it,” she says with a smile. “I love the greenery and native species on campus, and how it comes back to life in the spring.”
She also found a major that mirrored her worldview. “Languages are a tool for welcoming someone into a community and being inclusive,” she says. “Speaking to someone in their native language can have a real unifying effect.”
This deep appreciation for connection and culture is no accident. Kaza was raised in a diverse community and surrounded by Spanish-speaking friends. She took to the language quickly, driven by the same curiosity that first drew her to Dora’s bilingual adventures. Her love for language became more than a passion—it became her purpose.
But early in her college journey, that sense of purpose was put to the test.
Kaza’s mother was diagnosed with Stage 3 cervical cancer. “I was so scared, but I was fortunate to have so many faculty members and friends to support me," she recalls. "It was our campus community that got me through that.” Balancing coursework, extracurriculars, and regular trips home to be with her family, Kaza pressed on—even when it meant dropping a class, a choice she never thought she’d have to make.
Dr. Sally Shedd, Dean of the Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities, remembers those difficult moments clearly. “Kaza could have let that stop her,” Shedd says. “I have a very clear memory of us having tea in my office when she was trying to figure things out. But she found her way through that and continued her studies in the excellent fashion which we’ve come to expect of her. Kaza is intelligent, kind, thoughtful, creative, and a go-getter—one of the most exceptional students I've encountered in more than 25 years of teaching.”
That go-getter spirit is visible across campus. Kaza has immersed herself in nearly every corner of University life: she has been a member of Marlins Go Green, the Marlin Gems Dance Team, Camerata (VWU choir), theatre, numerous honor societies, and the Executive Board of the Student Government Association. She has also worked as a Spanish tutor both on campus and at Tidewater Collegiate Academy and was recently recognized with the Student Worker ALL-STAR Award. Even with this full slate, she studied abroad twice—once in Puerto Rico and once in Spain—experiences that deepened her global perspective and personal growth.
Kaza isn’t slowing down after graduation. She’ll remain at VWU for another year to earn her Master of Arts in Education and plans to teach Spanish—first possibly in Japan, then in the U.S. public school system. But her vision reaches far beyond vocabulary and grammar drills.
“I think it’s important to become comfortable with being uncomfortable,” she says. “That’s the only way we can address the issues that divide us.”
For Kaza, teaching will be a form of bridge-building—a chance to inspire the next generation not only to learn a new language, but also to seek understanding, embrace discomfort, and become forces for unity in a divided world.
In other words, she’ll be following in Dora’s footsteps—charting her own map, helping others find their way, and proving, one milestone at a time, that no obstacle is too big when you walk with purpose.