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Class of 2025,

I still vividly recall the first time we were all gathered together, at the end of August Orientation. At that time, we were welcomed to The Hill by faculty, staff, and an address by President Weinberg. We sat on the Commons buzzing with nervous energy and excitement, as President Weinberg warned us that the next four years were going to fly by quickly. I’ll be honest, I didn’t believe him then, but I sure do now. The last four years have truly flown by like a whirlwind of first day fireworks, afternoon labs, morning lifts, summer research, and more caffeine than we probably care to admit. Our Denison experience has been nothing short of eventful, and we have learned too many lessons to boil down into one sentiment. But while we’re all still here, at the very end, I would like to give it a shot.

If I could sum up our experience in four words, these are the ones I’d choose- We did it, together.

Together we learned how to collaborate. We came to The Hill in 2021, with bottles of hand sanitizer and packaged COVID testing swabs. We introduced ourselves through N-95s and refreshed our emails constantly, hoping never to read that we had been contact-traced. And while it wasn’t fun to move to quarantine housing or sit through a Zoom class, we closely followed the established isolation procedures, because we knew, even then, that if we all worked together, we could keep the virus off our campus. We kept each other safe. And slowly but surely, the masks came off, and we shared our first uncovered smiles.

Together we learned what it truly means to be curious. I think we can all agree that our liberal arts education was not easily achieved. Our classes motivated us to be intellectually engaged, and to make connections where there appeared to be none. Cross-listed classes showed us the magic of mixing the humanities with the classics, mixing art with natural sciences. Society glorifies binary ways of thinking because they are often the path of least resistance, but Denison implored us to reject that way of thinking. We contain countless capacities and identities, and it is our unique combination of interests that will create brand new solutions to age old problems.

Together we learned how to listen to each other. We all know that there are two things every Denison professor loves: group projects and class discussions. We were challenged to verbalize our thoughts, fears, and experiences with each other, and that vulnerability illuminated not only the ways in which we are similar, but more importantly, the ways in which we are different. That illumination of our differences is the greatest gift that Denison gave us, because there is no room for progress in a monolith. We have heard from classmates on the other side of the political aisle, from regions of the country, and even from the other side of the globe. The world is becoming increasingly more complicated and nuanced, and it is truly impossible to predict what things will look like in a year, 10 years, or 20 years. But, because of Denison, we are equipped to handle this uncertainty, because we are equipped with the knowledge and experience of just how important it is to listen, embrace and respect differences of all kinds.

Together, in a few moments we will become Denison graduates, Denison alumni. We will drive off The Hill, hopefully not for the last time, and face the world. A world that may not be as kind to us as the community that we have fostered here on The Hill. But I am invigorated to know that in every corner of this country and beyond, fellow Denisonians are waiting to embrace us with open arms. Denisonians that are ready to help us with this transition, to offer their advice and encouragement. It is crazy to think that we may not all be in the same place ever again.

But there is endless possibility in knowing that will all be out in the world, separated but together. Bonded by our new status as Denison alumni.

When we gathered together during that nervous August orientation day, President Weinberg told us that Denison is forever. He said that our four years here would be wonderful, but they wouldn’t be the best time of our lives. He promised us that the best time of our lives would occur after we left Denison, with all the tools and education that this University has gifted to us.

Class of 2025, we’ve reached the epilogue to our Denison journey. And while it feels like an ending, this moment is the beginning of the best time of our lives.

Class of 2025, let’s graduate, together.

Hello all, welcome to the Denison Commencement Ceremony of 2025!! Graduates, how are we feeling?!?! I am so proud of us, and I am ecstatic to be here on this very special day, May the 17th. I first want to wish the warmest of greetings to everyone who is sitting with us! Our families, friends, treasured professors and faculty, alumni, and leaders of our university. Your presence here is greatly appreciated. As I gaze into the eyes of all the stellar students on the day of our university graduation, I’m elated with joy and pride. We have all done the work, and we deserve to feel illuminated here at this moment in time! Today, we deserve to be proud of our years as Denisonians and to be excited for what the future holds.

To include a short anecdote; I transferred to Denison, the spring semester of my first year. I previously attended a much larger school with nearly 30,000 undergraduates. In October of 2021, I flew in to surprise my twin sister Fallon (shoutout to my fellow graduate and other half) for Big Red weekend, and my decision to apply was already solidified. I only applied to one other school, (for safety reasons of course), but I was willing to take that risk. I knew after that weekend I truly wanted to be here.

It is no surprise that on this campus there is a stunning natural beauty. Tall trees encase the landscape, wrapping around us like a big hug. Rolling hills blanketed in green gave us beautiful hilltop views while walking to class. There were vibrant, fiery sunrises that bathed our campus in a warm glow. Quiet sunsets of a blue dusk carried us into each new day. However, what’s special is that the beauty of the outside matches the inside–what happens on the inner levels of this campus is truly something wonderful. That is an environment of support, work ethic, connection, and ambition. To excel in all that we do, and to do it with love. As students we learn; and I’ve learned here that we have the power to make decisions for ourselves. I would like to share a few more things that I was taught here.

What we know to be the “Denison Difference,” has taught us to succeed, and to go for what we want–I know that we can all do it. The skills we have absorbed; from leadership opportunities–to the various studies we dedicated ourselves to, can and will all be taken into the world with us. These years are truly about understanding who we are, but also who we want to continue to grow to be. The essence of the education we have been given is to be able to be curious, creative, and motivated. To connect with those who make up the strong communities that exist here. We learned from all those who preceded us, and the people who will be in our places soon will have learned too. The things we loved to do will have been felt, and the impacts of which we all make in our own way will be remembered. That is what I have seen to exist at Denison.

So I encourage us to choose to do good and be good, to love and be loved, to change and be changed always. The future is what we make of it, and we are prepared with the tools we have been given to achieve, and to flourish. The future is not a distant, far off reality — it is now, for we are the agents and writers of our own stories. We have learned to deeply connect to the vast world surrounding us, and we have been encouraged to go out and make the changes we want to see. May we remain authentically ourselves, and may we strive for the greater good. May we retain a sense of curiosity, and keep reading books in a time where technological expansion seems to move as fast as the speed of light. May we cherish these years walking along the paths with one another, that will soon branch out into our very own life paths. We have been guided to be diligent students, but now on to be exemplary people.

Dear ���ϳԹ��� Class of 2025, Congratulations to us!!! We have grown tremendously, so may we hold our inner college student close-by, to always be open to newness.

If you’d told me four years ago that my most defining college moments would involve frantically arguing over syntax errors at 2 a.m. with a group of people surviving on coffee and the occasional granola bar, I would’ve said, “Did you bug my dorm room?”

Because let’s face it — at Denison, true bonding doesn’t happen in class or at parties. It happens in the unholy hours of the night, somewhere between delirium and a

Gmail chat message that just says, “Guys…we’re so screwed.”

And today feels a bit like one of those study sessions, doesn’t it? We’re all dressed up, trying to look like we know what we’re doing, but deep down, we’re just hoping no one notices we’re winging it. (Me). Well, good news: we’ve had four years of practice. And guess what? We made it.

Let me take you back to one of those infamous study group nights. It’s 11 p.m. — peak productivity hours, the usual — and we’re all huddled around a whiteboard that looks like the FBI’s hunting a serial killer. There are arrows, boxes, and something that might be hieroglyphics. One person goes, “Okay if we just refactor this loop, it should run.” Someone else says, “What does refactor mean?” Meanwhile, I’m searching on MyDenison, “Can you switch majors in the first semester of senior year?”

By 2 a.m., the snacks are gone, our brains have fully short-circuited, and someone has unironically suggested we submit the code as ‘abstract art.’ There’s always one optimist in the group who says, ‘Guys, we’ve got this,’ and another who’s already writing their apology email to the professor.

Looking back, those nights taught me a lot — like how to collaborate under pressure, how to laugh through failure, and how to find joy in solving problems that seemed impossible at first. (Also, that Celsius is NOT a replacement for water.)

But those nights taught us something else, too — something bigger. One of the greatest gifts of our time at Denison is how it’s prepared us to think. Here, we didn’t just learn facts or skills in isolation; we learned how to connect them, how to see the bigger picture, and how to approach challenges from every possible angle. Whether we were grappling with algorithms, Aristotle, or abstract art projects, Denison reminded us again and again that no problem exists in a vacuum.

I think that’s part of the beauty of a liberal arts education. It doesn’t just give us answers; it teaches us how to ask better questions. It teaches us to see the intersections — how biology and philosophy both tackle questions about life, how economics and ethics shape policy, and how even the most technical problems need a bit of creativity and humanity to solve. This mindset, this way of thinking, is what the world needs most right now.

Right now, graduating means we’re staring at the biggest, messiest whiteboard of our lives, and the world is like, ‘Go solve this.’ Climate change? Inequality? World Hunger? Okay, on second thought maybe I can debug that code…

It’s scary, sure. But let’s not forget: we’ve faced big, intimidating challenges before. And every time, we’ve found a way through — whether that meant asking for help, brainstorming together, or just deciding to wing it and hoping for the best. And, we’re not just specialists in one subject. We’re the bridge builders. We’re thinkers who see connections where others see two distinct ideas. That gives us the edge. Not just in solving problems, but in imagining what’s possible.

Life is basically one long group project. And like any group project, some people are going to be doing way too much while others are sending the “Sorry, can’t meet tonight.” message in the group chat. But here’s the thing: we’ve got this. We know how to adapt, how to think critically, and — most importantly — how to hit ‘submit’ even when we’re not 100% sure it’s perfect.

Good morning, faculty, staff, mentors, friends, and family,

¡Sí se pudo! (Yes, we did it!)

Today, we gather to celebrate a milestone that will forever shape our life trajectories. We now join the 37.7% of Americans who have earned a bachelor’s degree — a significant achievement made possible by the unwavering support of our mentors, faculty, advisors, and families.

From our first days on this hill, we were reminded of Denison’s mission statement:

“To inspire and educate students to become autonomous thinkers, discerning moral agents, and active citizens of a democratic society.”

As the resilient Class of 2025, we have become just that — autonomous, educated individuals who embraced both the challenges and opportunities of our college years. From athletes winning national championships to students earning Fulbright awards and national fellowships, from undergraduate researchers advancing knowledge to student leaders shaping campus life, we have demonstrated resilience and excellence.

Our class of 628 students, representing over 22 countries, has brought diverse perspectives to our classrooms, projects, and community. A special recognition goes to our international students, whose contributions have enriched our shared experiences and success. Together, we have exemplified perseverance: navigating the largest class size in Denison’s history, engaging in civic service, and adapting to learning environments transformed by a global pandemic. Our journey has been marked by collective determination and growth.

This afternoon, I’d like to share three pieces of advice — consejos — that shaped my college experience and that I believe will resonate with all of you as we move forward.

First: “No todo en la vida es fácil, menos lo bueno.” (Nothing in life is easy, especially the good things.) This advice from my older sister reminds us that meaningful achievements require discipline and persistence. Over the past four years at Denison, I have witnessed athletes already showered and ready for class every morning — a testament to their discipline. In the halls of Ebaugh and Talbot, STEM students immersed themselves in complex experiments daily and fervently studying for their exams. Humanities majors tackled extensive readings and contributed to academic discourse. Students in the arts dedicated countless hours to their crafts, walking down to Eisner and the Bryan Arts Center — a Hill that required A LOT of physical endurance.

And let’s not forget those among us, including myself, who’ve struggled in our first years but fought hard to recover, making the rest of our time at Denison an unforgettable experience. That collective hard work has made today possible.

The second piece of advice I’d like to share is: “No te ahogues en un vaso de agua.” (Don’t drown yourself in a cup of water.) This wisdom from my father reminds us to maintain a positive perspective. When I doubted whether I could afford a private education, his words helped me see my obstacles as challenges to be overcome rather than impossible barriers.

As we step into the next chapter of our lives, we will encounter difficulties that test our aspirations and desires. Let us remember that struggles may be difficult, but they are not the end of the world. With perseverance, creativity, and resilience, we can overcome anything — just as we have done these past four years.

Lastly, a lesson I received a month before starting college: My mom told me to value the wisdom of elders. “There’s a reason they’ve lived so long,” she said. As we forge our paths, let’s seek out and appreciate the insights of those who have paved the way. Their experiences and struggles hold valuable lessons. As we embark on our new journeys, let’s be curious, ask questions, and remain open to guidance — most people are eager to share what they’ve learned.

For most of us sitting here today in our caps and gowns, higher education would not have been possible without the unconditional love and support of our friends, mentors, and family. For me, that unwavering support has come first and foremost from my parents. I want to take this moment to humbly thank my mom and dad, who have been my greatest pillars of strength. When times were tough, they were always a phone call away. When I was ill, they drove 14 hours from Chicago to Ohio and back to ensure I received the care I needed. Today is not just a milestone for me but for my parents as well. Today marks their achievement of the “American Dream.” My parents, who received no more than a sixth-grade education, can now proudly say their youngest daughter is graduating from a private liberal arts institution, following in the footsteps of my older sister, who earned her bachelor’s degree in 2022. Their sacrifices and hard work have made today possible, and for that, gracias, Mama and Papa.

As we celebrate today, let us not forget that we didn’t reach this milestone alone. We had the support of loved ones and the Denison community. As we move forward, let’s remember to extend a helping hand to those who will walk the path behind us.

Congratulations, Class of 2025! Together, we have shown resilience, determination, and the power of collective achievement. Let us carry these lessons forward as we shape our futures and contribute to the world.

Thank you.