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Award-winning NBC Boston news anchor Latoyia Edwards challenged ���ϲ�����’s graduating Class of 2025 to ignore the doubters and boldly chase their dreams during a high energy keynote speech that was interspersed with music from Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and more. 

“When you get in the job market, whether it’s a big job or a little job, you walk into that building hungry to learn,” Edwards told the class during the May 24th ceremony at the DCU Center in Worcester. “You walk up to the janitor and you walk up to the President of the company with the same respect and you ask a million questions and you tell them your hopes and dreams and you listen.”

Edwards grew up in a working-class family in Dorchester to parents who were in their teens when she was born. She said the love and support she received from her parents allowed her to boldly pursue her dream of becoming a broadcast journalist despite other children and adults telling her she couldn’t do it. 

“Most people laughed right in my face,” she said. “It stung, but of course, I didn’t listen to them…You determine your story. You can be who you want to be.”

The University conferred 524 bachelor’s degrees during the ceremony. President Nancy Niemi reflected on the resiliency of the class, many of whom began their undergraduate experience online during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“And yet strangely, you also experienced this individual, lonely time together,” Niemi said. “There is no one but those of you who went through this episode of your lives, who will ever really understand the nature of your experience, and so it bonds you collectively.” 

Student speaker Jeremy McDonald, a member of the hockey team is who going on to law school, told his classmates that by earning a college degree, they have positioned themselves to become leaders in their communities.

“During my years of athletics, I learned that leadership isn’t about who has a title or who can stand up and provide a big speech,” McDonald said. “Instead, leadership is about those who are willing to stand up for what is right. Leadership is about the person who picks a teammate up when they are down. Leadership is a collective of actions that betters the community. Leadership is pursuing the truth and living to it. It can be loud, and it can be quiet. Each of you is a leader…You have the power to serve the public interest and advocate for the voiceless.”

���ϲ����� conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree upon Edwards during the ceremony for her community advocacy and commitment to conveying truth and knowledge in our region. Dr. Diane Lowe, Professor Emerita of Education, was presented the President’s Medal, for her significant contributions to ���ϲ����� during her 45-year career.

The graduate ceremony was held on May 22nd in the ���ϲ����� Athletic Center. Keynote Speaker Warren Griffin ’73, G’78 shared his personal story of leaving ���ϲ����� after his freshman year to enroll in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He would go on to earn both his undergraduate and master’s degree at ���ϲ�����, and become a school teacher and administrator in Boston. Later he would serve his fellow veterans and Marines through leadership roles with the Marine Corps. League. 

“Test yourself. Challenge yourself. Risk failing,” Griffin said. “Many of you have no idea how great you can be. You have more doors opened to you now than you did after you received your undergraduate degree. Do not limit yourselves. Do not regret not taking a chance.”

���ϲ����� conferred 321 master’s degrees during the event.