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Eight months ago, Colin Jambekar was sitting through chemotherapy treatments that lasted up to seven hours a day while trying to keep pace with a demanding civil engineering course load.

This Saturday, he will walk across the commencement stage at ��ɬֱ�� as a college graduate, cancer survivor, and conference champion student-athlete.

The native of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, came to Calvin for its nationally respected engineering program and continued his athletic career as a javelin thrower on the university’s . After steadily improving during his first three collegiate seasons, Jambekar entered the fall of 2025 poised for a breakthrough senior year.

Then came an unexpected diagnosis.

After discovering abnormalities during a self-exam in late August, Jambekar sought medical attention and was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Doctors later discovered the cancer had spread into his lymph nodes, leading to surgery followed by three rounds of chemotherapy.

“It’s shocking at first,” said Jambekar. “It forces you on your knees to pray and I prayed a lot.”

Throughout treatment, Jambekar continued pursuing his degree while traveling regularly to Detroit for chemotherapy infusions. He credits Calvin faculty and staff for helping him navigate one of the most difficult seasons of his life.

“My professors were great,” said Jambekar. “I would not be graduating from Calvin without their help. My engineering professors helped me work ahead. They were willing to work around my medical treatments and helped with my time management.”

The treatments came with immense physical and emotional challenges. Jambekar lost weight, strength, and stamina while also dealing with anxiety and post-traumatic stress tied to his cancer treatments.

“There is a psychological part of the battle,” he said. “I kept telling myself that it wasn’t about me. It was about glorifying God through my struggles.”

This spring, Jambekar returned to competition for the Calvin track and field team after nearly 11 months away from competition. At the 2026 MIAA Championships, he delivered a career-best javelin throw of 49.08 meters while helping Calvin capture the conference title.

The moment became even more meaningful because he competed alongside his younger brother, Lucas, who won the conference championship in the event.

“Getting to watch Colin overcome everything and find joy in the performance was something right out of a movie,” said Calvin associate head coach Jacob Graham.

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Calvin head coach Adam Haldorson said Jambekar’s impact extended far beyond athletics.

“He wanted to use his diagnosis to find a way to make other people’s lives better and further God’s kingdom by showing God’s grace and glory through his hardships,” said Haldorson. “He’s been a great ambassador for people that one day will go through this cancer journey.”

Jambekar completed his engineering senior design project this spring and has accepted a position with Anchor Construction in Grand Rapids following graduation.

Now considered cancer free, he continues follow-up appointments with doctors but faces the future with confidence grounded in faith.

“I know that God is in control and that His will is perfect,” said Jambekar. “That brings me peace and the confidence to live for Him moving forward.”

Commencement ceremonies for ��ɬֱ�� will take place at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 9.