Special Feature

2025
Commencement

Commencement is more than a ceremony—it’s a defining moment.

When the members of the Class of 2025 first arrived at UConn in the fall of 2021, they were beginning their college careers at a time when the country and the world were still emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, with nothing but uncertainty in the near-term forecast.

Very quickly, it became clear that at least one thing was certain: the students of this class were determined to make their mark at UConn. Entering as the most diverse class in the history of the University, they soon established themselves as scholars, entrepreneurs, activists, and mentors.

They experienced many milestones during their four years at UConn: a new University President; the opening of Science 1, Connecticut Hall, and the Toscano Family Ice Forum; the largest philanthropic gift in the University’s history; consecutive records for fundraising at HuskyTHON; and, in case you hadn’t heard, back-to-back national championships for the men’s basketball team and a 12th national championship for the women’s basketball team.

This is a group of Huskies who refused to let adversity or uncertainty define their time at UConn, an attitude they’ll bring to whatever they pursue next – business, public service, art, professional sports, graduate education, families, military service, and more.

So congratulations, Class of 2025 – from Avery Point; from Farmington; from Hartford; from Stamford; from Storrs; from Waterbury; and from all over Connecticut, the nation, and the world. When you look back, it won’t be on what you missed four years ago, but on everything you’ve gained in the four years since. Yesterday, today, tomorrow: Huskies Forever.

The Last Four

Inspiring. Impactful. Unforgettable. For UConn’s Class of 2025, the last four years have been nothing short of exceptional. As this impressive class of soon-to-be brand-new Husky alumni prepares to take its next steps into the world, we look back and celebrate some of the moments that have made their time at UConn truly historic.

Nadia Aguilar-Steinberg

School of Fine Arts

Bendy Al Zaatini

College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources

Matthew Antunes

College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources

I felt like I was a lot closer to the friends I made in college than in high school. I felt like I sort of like came into my own.
– Lilian Vito ’25 (CAHNR, CLAS)

Go to a basketball game! The energy is a lot different than anywhere else on campus, and you don’t get that sort of experience on any other college campus really. I met Paige Bueckers, I think it was the first week of class, on campus, and I wasn’t entirely familiar with UConn basketball at that point. I just didn’t watch sports really. But I met her, found out she was a really good player and then just from that point on, I’ve been keeping up with both the women’s and the men’s basketball teams.
– Justin Coe ’25 (ENG)

Don’t be afraid to try new things. UConn has so many opportunities, so many doors that can be opened for you. Don’t just try to stick in your lane. Try something new every week – every week, try a new club. Every week, meet someone new.
– Jadon Gomez-Stafford ’25 (ENG)

There are two different things that college life prepares you for. One’s obviously the professional life. But I think what college helps with more deeply is that interpersonal connection and also finding a sense of community, finding great friends, finding great people for you to interact with. And not all of them stick with you for the rest of your life, but the ones that do can really make your life a lot easier as go forward.
– Harsh Shah ’25 (BUS, CLAS)

Don’t be afraid to try things out and see what sticks. There’s a lot to this school.
– Milo Barron ’25 (ENG)

Autumn Bordieri

School of Social Work

Jillian K. Bowen

College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources

Alyssa Brown

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Camila Connolly

College of Engineering

Erik Criollo

School of Social Work

Jacob Crow

College of Engineering

Thank You, UConn

As the Class of 2025 embark on the next chapter of their lives, they share their thanks for the incredible memories, lifelong friends, professors, and staff that have inspired and helped them grow into the individuals they are today.

Julianna Cushner

School of Business

Alejandro Figueroa Condiman

College of Liberal arts and sciences

Sean Flaherty

School of Nursing

Try as many things as possible. There are many opportunities at UConn, some that you have to look very hard to find and some that are just out there. In my experience just trying different opportunities that UConn provides helped me with my soft skills, like communication and dealing with uncertainties. They also provided me with a good opportunity to meet people, to network. And I think that’s a huge part of college.
– Ammar Alsadadi ’25 (BUS, CLAS)

Get involved in stuff early. I found out about a lot of the resources and programs that we have later on, that I wish I knew about earlier. So, try to get as much as you can out of the school while you’re here.
– Sahana Chinthak ’25 (CLAS)

I came from a really small town; my graduating class was 96 students. So, coming to a big campus and collaborating with other students and professors that’s been very eye opening, and it’s expanded my knowledge to a point where I can communicate better with people and I’m able to work better with people. I feel like I’ll carry those values and all the stuff I’ve learned into the real world.
– Braden Gutierrez ’25 (CAHNR)

I got to take a whole bunch of different classes because I’m in general studies. So, I got to take big classes, small classes, different types of majors. Creative writing is definitely my favorite.
– Natalie Levy ’25 (BGS)

My number one piece of advice to anyone is join a club. You need to be involved in the campus because there are so many opportunities where you can meet your next best friend or maybe your next partner. If you get involved in a club, something that you’re interested in, you’re going to meet these people that are also interested in this thing. You can really build your network that way.
– Minh Vu ’25 (BUS)

Amanda Hernandez Rodriguez

School of Medicine

Lili Kane

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Joshua Maddox

School of Law

Marc Massicotte

School of Business

Brenna Pierce

School of Nursing

Vihaan Shah

College of Engineering

Here’s to you, UConn ’25

Congratulations and welcome to our newest UConn alumni!

Dakota Sicignano

School of Pharmacy

Owen Smyth

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Mingda Sun

College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources

When you’re walking around campus you don’t recognize anyone, but then in your class – junior year, senior year – it’s like 10 to 15 kids, maybe 20 in your classes. So, it gets pretty small, and you get to know everyone there.
– Matthew Henrickson ’25 (BUS, CLAS)

I’m originally from India but I live in-state, so a lot of the people from my high school came to UConn and actually I was a little hesitant. I really wanted to go into business, and I didn’t really know what to do, but UConn provided me with a lot of real-world experiential learning opportunities where I could actually be in the real world and learn by doing rather than being in the classroom. I never expected to be able to do that as a student, gain all that experience.
– Atharva Bhatnagar ’25 (CLAS)

One thing I was looking for in a university – I wanted it to have a lot of school spirit. I didn’t realize what I was getting into coming here! It’s been really fun to be a part of this community.
– Isabel Angelo ’25 (ENG)

What will always make me think about UConn is my friends and the people that I’ve met here. Also, my parents both went here, so whenever I’m with them, it just kind of reminds me of my time here.
– Paige Dolyak ’25 (CLAS)

A lot of people move off campus too early, but being on campus and being constantly surrounded by thousands of people your age is the best thing that you could do. You can have such a fun, unique experience. I love it. I’m sad that I’m leaving.
– Alexia Landry ’25 (CLAS)

Daisy Torres-Hill

Neag School of Education

Michael Truhlar

School of Dental Medicine

Gabrielle Tullock

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Tyler Vaglivelo

School of Pharmacy

Kyle Volo

Neag School of Education

Alexandra Wynne

School of Fine Arts

2025Commencement

The Last Four

Thank You, UConn

Here’s to you, UConn ’25

2025
Commencement