Nearly 8,000 degrees were awarded across 17 commencement ceremonies at the University of Connecticut this month, and along with them came advice, insight, and wise counsel from the speakers and honorary degree recipients who addressed the graduates. One of those speakers was Rodney Butler’ 99 (BUS), the Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, who reflected on how he arrived at UConn to play football and left equipped for the leadership roles he would go on to assume:

Some of the other highlights of the speeches by guests, students, and faculty members throughout the three-day weekend include:

Keynote speaker Mark Sarkisian, keynote speaker at the College of Engineering commencement ceremony: “I love what I do. I hope you enter a profession that you never describe as ‘work,’ and that can become a way of life not defined by office hours. If you do that, you can enjoy engineering after 40 years, the same way that you did when you first started.”

Justin Guinta ’25 (CLAS), student speaker at the first College of Liberal Arts and Sciences commencement ceremony: “Through my time at UConn, I had my fair share of ‘hills’ – times where stress, failure, and imposter syndrome led me to question the climb. I’m sure you had moments like these too, whether it be the all-nighters before an exam, the uncertainty left by the pandemic, or even that nervous, yet excited feeling that overcomes campus the morning of a National Championship. Times like these can feel overwhelming, but if there’s one piece of advice that I can give you today, it’s the advice of my late father – ‘It’s just a hill.'”

Mimi Marella ’25 (SSW), student speaker at the School of Social Work commencement ceremony: “The path we’ve chosen isn’t easy. It’s not for everyone. But we were called to this work for a reason. Let’s never forget our ‘why.’ Let’s keep reflecting, growing, and fighting for what’s right—even when things get hard.”

Joe LaPuma ’05 (CLAS), keynote speaker at the second and third College of Liberal Arts and Sciences commencement ceremonies: “Over a six-month period, I wrote dozens of articles for the Daily Campus and went from ‘Campus Correspondent’ to ‘Staff Writer.’ Although I only wrote for one year, I was focused on making up for lost time. And at the end of the year, I was voted ‘Rookie of the Year’ by my peers at the paper. Yes, I was the senior who won ‘Rookie of the Year.’ I could’ve been embarrassed at being the old guy who won the award meant for freshmen, but it was the most substantial thing I had done at UConn until that point, and it meant a ton to me. So much so that I still bring the laminated certificate with me when I have big moments that make me nervous. True story.”

Rodney Butler ’99 (BUS), Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, keynote speaker and honorary degree recipient at the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources commencement ceremony: “In my culture, we’re taught to make decisions with the seventh generation in mind. Not just for the next quarter, the next election, or the next funding cycle, but for our grandchildren’s grandchildren. That way of thinking changes everything. It changes how we grow food, how we build our economies, how we govern, and how we lead.”

Manasse Mbonye ’95 Ph.D., keynote speaker at the commencement ceremony for master’s degree recipients: “The importance of learning from failure as the best teacher. I try to approach challenges with systematic persistence. We are each stronger than we realize. Recall, as a baby, you didn’t give up on the hardest brain-challenge, learning to walk. Imagine if you had! Therefore, at moments like this, look back how far you have come, to motivate your future growth.”

Daniella Dennis ’25 MD, School of Medicine student speaker at the UConn Health commencement ceremony: “I still remember my first code blue. The rush of adrenaline. The nurse shouting for the crash cart. My hands shaking as I helped with compressions, trying to remember ACLS steps like I was in simulation—but this wasn’t SIM. This was someone’s father. Someone’s husband. And in that moment, I realized that being a doctor isn’t just about knowing the answer—it’s about being there when it matters most. Even when you don’t feel ready.”

Maggie Mitchelle Salem, keynote speaker at the School of Social Work commencement ceremony: “Only in a democracy is the pursuit for human rights and social justice possible. Not easy, with many setbacks along the way, but still possible. Now, there may be some ‘democracy fatigue’ at the moment. It all can seem just too much. I’m not going to be very helpful here. Democracy is an ongoing quest for justice, equality, and freedom. You never reach the finish line. To me, that’s the beauty of our imperfection, that we keep striving to do and be better.”

Suzanne Wilson, Neag Endowed Professor of Teacher Education, keynote speaker at the Neag School of Education commencement ceremony: “Hear, embrace mistakes, be kind. Pretty simple, right? Don’t make the mistake of thinking that these habits are either personality traits or come ‘naturally.’ You must consciously decide to practice doing these things for every person you work with, every day. Talk about a stretch goal! It takes will and skill.”

Kat Corrigan ’25 (SFA), student speaker at the School of Fine Arts commencement ceremony: “By choosing to pursue art, we’ve chosen a path that’s uncertain. But it was being uncertain, yet knowing that I was hungry to work, that has made me a more multifaceted artist than I was four years ago. I don’t know what my life is going to look like six months from now, but I could be anywhere doing anything. We have a world of possibilities in front of us. UConn has taught me that the only way to grow is to be uncomfortable, and that if an opportunity isn’t presenting itself to you, you can make one for yourself.”

Maureen Ahern ’85 (CLAS), keynote speaker at the first College of Liberal Arts and Sciences commencement ceremony: “Here’s what nobody tells you: Your future most likely won’t be shaped by big moves, but by your small, daily actions. The 6 a.m. alarm to go work out when you’d rather sleep. Asking for help when you usually struggle alone. Showing up to work 15 minutes early. Life rewards those who take action—sometimes messy, not always perfect—but always forward-moving.”

Sean Flaherty ’25 (NUR), student speaker at the School of Nursing commencement ceremony: “Becoming a nurse is not for the faint of heart. We have endured long shifts, high-stakes exams, and moments of self-doubt. We have learned to balance theory with practice, compassion with efficiency, and realizing that graduating from UConn isn’t the end of our learning, but just the beginning of our journeys.”

Melissa Watson, student speaker at the Bachelor of General Studies commencement ceremony: “Different seasons of life have different purposes. Putting something down for a season doesn’t mean you can’t pick it back up again in the future. Throughout your life, you’re going to have different goals that you will want to achieve – and you get to decide how to get it done. That’s your journey. The twists in your journey are what make you unique and separate you from everyone else.”