While growing up in the Caribbean, Lusanni Acosta had no idea of the miracles God would work in her life for His sake. 

Early on, she knew she wanted to be an engineer. “I knew what my goal was from the start,” she says. Acosta says that mathematical skills came easy to her. “I found all those things—algebra, geometry, calculus—easy,” she said. She decided to study civil engineering for her undergraduate degree. She received significant financial assistance and scholarships that paid the entire cost of her undergraduate program. 

What awaited her, she says, was worth waiting for. 

Standing for Her Beliefs 

After high school, Acosta decided to attend Western Michigan University (WSU) in Kalamazoo. When she arrived at the university, something unexpected happened. Acosta had to sign some paperwork regarding her scholarships—but the only time she could sign was on Sabbath.  

“I decided, ‘No, I will not bow to this graven image,’” she says. Acosta decided to discuss the issue with the program director. “I went to him, and he told me that they understood, and that they’d be willing to accommodate me.” This wouldn’t be the first time her faith was tested as she began her higher education experience. 

Before Acosta started her courses, she had to take an exam. Again, she encountered a Sabbath challenge. This time it was not just paperwork—it was an exam, and the entirety of her financial aid depended on her completing it.  

The director told her that she would only be allowed to complete the exam on Sabbath. “I told the director, ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t take it,’” she says. She was prepared to walk away from her scholarships. “I was only 18, and I was convicted, but I was still thinking, ‘Lord, I don’t know about this, but I am believing right now.’” The next morning at 2 a.m. she received an email from the director that she describes as a miracle. “It said, ‘Lusanni, there is an alternative day.’” She was able to take the exam, and receive her financial assistance. 

At several points, Acosta had key exams scheduled on Sabbath, overflowing homework, and other challenges. But, she felt that these challenges were a way of witnessing to her friends on campus. “My friends would come to me later and say, ‘You’re getting an education, but you’re also doing ‘the God thing.’ So, what if we have a PhD? You’re already doing something powerful.’”  

Because she stood up for what she believed, she reached her friends in ways that traditional evangelism couldn’t. 

Special Graduation 

As Acosta prepared to complete her Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering, she learned that WSU’s graduation would be held on Sabbath. Once again, she knew she had to do what was right. “I decided that I could not attend.” she says. “People came to me and said, ‘You’re not going to go? Lusanni, you have to go to your graduation. Isn’t a PhD high enough? Can you get a waiver from the Lord or something?’ and I told them, ‘No, God is higher than this.’” 

When she completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees, both graduations were held on Sabbath. On both occasions, she was able to participate in a photo-op with the university’s president in place of the traditional graduation ceremony. But this time, she discovered something even more worthwhile was in store. 

Upon hearing about Acosta’s beliefs, and her determination to do what she knew to be right, WSU administrators held a special graduation ceremony—just for her. “The moment came, and it was so amazing,” she says. “I walked down the aisle and shook everybody’s hand. It was just like the ceremony that they had on Sabbath—but only for me. It was amazing, and it’s something I’ll never forget.”  

Jeremy Hall, superintendent of Schools for the Michigan Conference, attended the ceremony and said it was an encouraging moment to witness. “It was a blessing and privilege to attend Lusanni’s special ceremony provided to her by the administration at Western Michigan University. The fact that the university president and officials were willing to do this for her was also meaningful,” he said. “It was encouraging to see the faith of this student who viewed her loyalty to God as more sought after and valued than marching with her classmates to receive her degree in the official ceremony. It’s encouraging to see that there are still young people who view the citizenship of heaven as of greater value than the pursuits of this world.”