Graduates, family and friends cheered, danced, sang and wiped away a few bittersweet tears as the Northeastern University Class of 2025 celebrated together a final time at commencement ceremonies at Fenway Park in Boston on Sunday.
“This education is your lifelong bedrock — four strong foundations I call the ‘four Cs’ make it unique,” Northeastern President Joseph E. Aoun told graduates.
He outlined the four Cs as curiosity, creativity, context and community.
“Curiosity, creativity and contextual agility can help us accomplish great things,” Aoun said. “Community is why we accomplish them.”
Indeed, the Northeastern community was out in full force on a picture-perfect May Sunday. More than 50,000 guests filled Fenway Park for Northeastern’s 123rd commencement ceremonies to honor this year’s graduating class of 5,596 graduate students and 6,493 undergraduates.
“I think we can all agree that this is one of the best days of the year,” Aoun told graduates.
Then he paused for the punchline: “Today is Mother’s Day.”
The festivities began in the morning with the graduate commencement ceremony.
Student speakers Isaiah D. Simpson of the College of Engineering, Kushal Shankar of the Khoury College of Computer Sciences and Kaitlyn Annas Gonyer of the Bouve College of Health Sciences shared the stage to converse about Northeastern’s motto: Lux, Veritas, Virtus (light, truth, courage) and how these ideals not only shaped their journeys through the university, but will guide their futures.
“Now, as we stand at the in-between — between what was and what’s next, between who we were and who we are becoming — let’s remember,” Gonyer advised fellow graduates, “to carry Lux even when things feel uncertain; to seek Veritas even when the truth is difficult; and to choose Virtus, especially when it’s not the easy option. Because on the other side of fear is a life bigger, brighter and truer than we ever imagined.”
Commencement speaker David Roux — an entrepreneur and philanthropist who launched the Roux Institute in Portland, Maine, with his wife, Barbara, in 2020 — challenged the Class of 2025 to build lives worth remembering.
“How will you be remembered? Or more poignantly, what will make you memorable?” Roux asked the graduates.
“You won’t be remembered for who you are, but for what you do and how you do it,” Roux continued. “So make your life worth remembering by doing things that are worthwhile.”
“Help, care, support, heal and build great institutions,” Roux said. “That’s what you can do to be the right kind of memorable.”
It was a day that was the right kind of memorable for parents.
“It’s a blessing to be able to have your child get this kind of education,” said Soukayna Karim, whose son Mohamed Karim Kane graduated with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. “It’s a privilege for him and us.”
Nolan Shepard was on hand to celebrate his wife, Alex Shepard, who received her master’s degree in civil engineering with a concentration in construction management.
“I’m glad that she’s been able to get this opportunity,” Shepard said. “She’s been able to fulfill even more of her dreams.”
And as the Congrats Huskies banner unfurled on the Green Monster, the singing, dancing and tears of joy began, as over 200 performers from among the university’s ensembles gathered for an epic finale.
The energy continued at the undergraduate commencement ceremony Sunday afternoon.
Student speakers Daunte Pean of the College of Engineering, Luke Brothers of the Bouvé College of Health Sciences and Jizelle Dorego of the D’Amore-McKim School of Business spoke about how the university’s values of light, truth and courage guided them through their Northeastern experience and helped them find their footing in the world — whether through co-op, within a student organization or within their respective college.
“I’m grateful that Northeastern didn’t just hand us opportunities. It taught us how to spot them, build on them and face challenges with steady hands and open minds,” Brothers said. “Now, we leave with confidence that even when the path isn’t clear, how we show up — how we lead, how we care — it all matters.”
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Pean agreed.
In fact, some pretty notable kinds of people — namely rapper Cardi B and singer Ed Sheeran — greeted the Class of 2025 in a sizzle reel prior to an address by commencement speaker Elliot Grainge, CEO of Atlantic Music Group and a proud Northeastern graduate.
Grainge extolled the values of quiet, hard work, advising the Class of 2025 to keep “grinding” in the face of adversity and learning from setbacks — even though that can be unpredictable and rarely straightforward.
“Success isn’t one massive leap,” Grainge said. “It’s little wins, a thousand setbacks, some detours, and eventually a door opens.”
“Grainge also advised graduates to think about what “no” really means.
“Every time someone says ‘No,’ think about what they said,” Grainge said. “Then take it with a pound of salt. If your gut says you’re right, ignore them completely. If they are right? Cool, good for them. Learn from it. Pivot. And try again.”
Grainge closed with optimism for the future that the Class of 2025 will create.
“You represent … a future we haven’t seen, a future we can’t fully imagine, and won’t truly understand, until you build it,” Grainge said. “Each and every one of you were raised on speed, technology and constant evolution. You’ll shape culture, technology, business and politics in ways we can’t yet fathom.”
“You are the future,” Grainge continued. “And the future starts now.”Minutes later, the banner unfurled on the Green Monster once more, the performers made their way onto the field, and fireworks shot into the air.