Four unforgettable years on The Hill hardly seem enough to contain the thousands of hours of academic, artistic, and athletic endeavors of the Class of 2025.
Legendary jazz vocalist and multi-talented artist Dee Dee Bridgewater, the keynote speaker at Denison’s 184th Commencement on Saturday, encapsulated their experience best.
“You came here as one version of yourself,” she said. “You leave as someone more complex. More curious. More you. So go out there. Find your rhythm. Make noise. Make meaning. Be loud when it counts. Be quiet when it heals. And always, always remember that you are not alone.”
Life isn’t about getting it all right, Bridgewater reminded the 607 graduating Denisonians. It’s about showing up with your heart wide open.
“Your life is not a script. It is jazz, baby.”
You get to be the architect of the life you want to live, President Adam Weinberg reminded graduates in his address. Do so by using the Denison education you worked hard to receive.
“Develop good habits and nurture healthy relationships, starting with those you made at Denison,” he said. “Be present in every moment and be performance-oriented. Find a job, and don’t worry if it is not the perfect job; it won’t be. Finally, stay curious, grateful, and positive.”
Student commencement speaker Jess Cohen ’25 shared her reflections after four years on The Hill.
“Initiative, inquiry, and empathy are not archival artifacts that we leave behind upon graduation,” she said. “They are what construct and continue to mold our identities as Denisonians.”
After the names had been read and the caps were tossed, family, friends, and graduates ebbed and flowed throughout the Mitchell Center and out into the sunshine, sharing tears and laughter, flowers, and a few hugs.
“It’s an amazing experience,” Edward Kenny said as he waited for his daughter, Pippin Kenny ’25 to emerge from the Mitchell Center in her black gown. “I know the rollercoaster ride is just starting, but as she leaves this beautiful little sanctuary of Denison, I know she’s prepared for life.”
A look back at the Class of 2025
Commencement
Breathtaking moments over four years on The Hill
- President’s Medalists
- Student Life Awards
- Senior Visual Arts Exhibition
- 2025 NACC Swimming championships
- Big Red Baseball’s Eric Colaco
- Emmet Anderson’s unforgettable Groundhog Day
- The Disney princess towel
- The 2024 total eclipse
- Sydney Silvestein, softball pitcher extraordinaire
- Annabelle Calderon’s “mad dash”
- Alex Redrick’s Disney internship
- Andrew D’Asaro, javelin thrower
- Jay Jackson inside the beltway
- Cameron McIntosh: Recent student trustee
- Katie Kress in “She Loves Me”
- Abigail Engler awarded Barry Goldwater Scholarship
- Mason Allen finds humor in the humble
- Isabella Pereira recognized for leadership
- A Q & A with cinema major Isaac Ward
- Jay Jackson recognized for positive contributions
- A.J. Hartwick recognized for commitment to solving public problems
- Jacob Eppley recognized for student service