After the Nor’easters’ performance of Alma Mater, Emcee Iannone introduces the epic finale, with over 250 performers.
“Take it away, Nor’easters,” he says.
Other finale performers include:
After the playing of an alumni video, Diane Nishigaya MacGillivray welcomes the three student speakers – Kaitlyn Annas Gonyer, Kushal Shankar and Isaiah D. Simpson – to the podium.
All together, they shout:
“Let’s celebrate!”
The Nor’easters sing a rendition of Alma Mater, then the Rock Band plays.
And a massive Northeastern banner drops from the Green Monster. It says, “Congrats Huskies!”
Diane Nishigaya MacGillivray, senior vice president for university advancement, address the graduates, and welcomes them as alumni.
“Just as your student experiences involved clubs, research, service, and exploring the globe – your alumni communities will bring you together around shared experiences and interests – whether that be related to your geography, personal passions, professions, and yes – more learning – you will find many opportunities to stay connected to the university and to one another,” MacGillivray says.
“Since you just finished your last classes, earning distinguished degrees in your fields, it may be hard to think about your next. But we know that as Northeastern alumni, you are curious. You will continue to evolve, reinvent yourselves, and pursue new paths. The university is invested in your future as lifelong learners.”
“Your Northeastern family is here for you.”
Provost Madigan presents the degrees in course.
“Mr. President,” he says, “it is my privilege to report to you that the candidates assembled here have qualified in all respects for the degrees in course. They have successfully completed curricula offered by the several schools and colleges of Northeastern University and have been recommended by the faculty and the council of deans to be awarded appropriate degrees in recognition of their academic accomplishments.”
One by one, the deans ask the graduates from their colleges to rise, declaring that they have qualified in all respects for their Northeastern degrees:
Once the degrees in course are complete, President Aoun moves to the podium to confer degrees.
David Roux receives a citation from President Joseph Aoun.
Roux also asked the graduates what he called the most important question: “How will you be remembered? Or more poignantly, What will make you memorable?”
“You won’t be remembered for who you are, but for what you do and how you do it. So make your life worth remembering by doing things that are worthwhile,” he says.
“On this wonderful commencement day, my sole piece of advice for you graduates is to start weaving yourselves into the fabric of your communities — your neighborhood, your workplace and your extended family.”
Roux encouraged graduates to share themselves and do for others.
“Help, care, support, heal and build great institutions. That’s what you can do to be the right kind of memorable,” Roux concludes.
Roux says there is a “cognitive revolution happening all around us” in which collective memories are being aggregated.
“In an important way, it’s like the Industrial Revolution where machines automated great swaths of manual labor. And enabled mass production of textiles, furniture, steel, cars and other household goods. It took several generations to harness and adapt the capabilities, but our predecessors all eventually realized they would never be able to outrun a train, outplow a tractor, or lift more than a crane,” Roux says.
He tells graduates they won’t be able to “out-memorize an AI model, beat a computer at chess or sequence a human genome.”
“You will be able to outperform the machine in creativity, innovation and teamwork.
“What AI does is valorize novelty and creativity, so … your giant opportunity is to discover, create and build. That’s what you can do for you.”
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After being introduced by President Aoun, David Roux addresses the crowd at Fenway Park.
Roux speaks about memory, and why it is so important in the age of artificial intelligence.
“Now you graduates might say ‘We are young, our whole lives are in front of us. Who cares about old memories? Aren’t we supposed to be thinking about the future, not what happened in the past?’ Well, I’m here to tell you that your past is your future, and your memory is why you won’t end up working for a machine,” Roux says.
“Memory is also the glue of our culture, the shared mortar of civilization. It’s what holds us all together. Memory is how we share values, establish common goals and rally collectively to defend ourselves from existential threats. It’s what we believe in, stand behind and are willing to fight for. No machine can tell us that.”
Congratulations to all our graduating Huskies!You've done the Red & Black proud, know you'll always have a home with us! pic.twitter.com/iC4yUbMwLW— Northeastern Huskies (@GoNUathletics) May 11, 2025
Congratulations to all our graduating Huskies!You've done the Red & Black proud, know you'll always have a home with us! pic.twitter.com/iC4yUbMwLW
“This education is your lifelong bedrock. Four strong foundations I call the four Cs make it unique,” the president says.
The four Cs he spoke about are: curiosity, creativity, context and community.
“The most important foundation and final C is community. Curiosity, creativity and contextual agility can help us accomplish great things. Community is why we accomplish them,” Aoun says.
The president says in a world structured by data and design, “human connection is a magical force.”
“Your Northeastern community gives you such a great advantage.
“You are part of a global family united across every profession, every industry, every culture, every nation.
“The power of this worldwide network can help you achieve your goals and will also inspire you to surpass the limits of your dreams.
“In this era of disruption, we all need a guiding light.
“Northeastern is more than a network. It is a steady constellation in the shifting skies.”
President Joseph Aoun congratulates graduates and welcomes the entire Northeastern community.
Aoun says artificial intelligence continues to grow more powerful.
“Some experts say that it will have a bigger effect than electricity. Other experts say that it will disrupt or eliminate the overwhelming majority of jobs that are waiting for you. It may do both,” he says.
“Your Northeastern education will help you navigate the AI revolution, its transformations and opportunities,” Aoun says.
Richard D’Amore, chairman of Northeastern’s Board of Trustees, introduces President Joseph E. Aoun.
The D’Amore-McKim School of Business is named after graduates D’Amore and Alan McKim, whose $60 million philanthropic investment created the university’s first named college or school in 2012.
“Class of 2025, I can tell you as an alumnus that this is a day that will stick with you forever. Take a look around and soak it in. You did it!” D’Amore says.
After a conversational presentation among the three graduate student speakers, Kaitlyn Annas Gonyer concludes and speaks about light, truth and courage.
“For years, I chased lux — light — as if it lived somewhere else. But we don’t find light. We choose to become it.”
“Veritas — truth — isn’t about easy answers. It’s about honestly, compassionately questioning the stories we were taught and how we see others — and even ourselves.
“Choosing virtus — courage — wasn’t one moment. It was a thousand small ones. Unmuting myself. Staying engaged. Trusting I was enough.”
Gonyer also speaks about what Northeastern gave her.
“The understanding that courage is not the absence of fear, but the choice to step forward anyway. Because light without courage stays hidden. And truth without courage stays silent.”
“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:
“To carry Lux, even when things feel uncertain. To seek Veritas, even when the truth is difficult. 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. And wherever our in-between times lead us, because of our Northeastern experiences, we are …”
And all three speakers shout together:
“Huskies for life!!!”
Kushal Shankar says he found that success, failure and growth do not happen in “giant leaps.”
“They happen in the smallest, quietest moments,” he says. “The ones no one sees.”
“At Northeastern, we found the light that came from late-night study sessions in Snell Library, where exhaustion met determination.”
“It came from professors who encouraged us when we doubted ourselves.
“It came from friends who started as strangers and became the ones we leaned on the most.
“And that light came literally from the end of the tunnel — the Huntington wind tunnel. Those cold, soul-snatching walks to class gave us plenty of time to question our life choices. But we bonded over the cold just as much as we did over exams,” Shankar says.
Graduate student speaker Isaiah D. Simpson spoke about light, truth and courage.
“Today’s moment of triumph was earned through the light of dedication, the truth of hardship, and the courage fueled by the unwavering support of those around us,” Simpson says.
“In adversity, we found opportunities to thrive.
“We fell — so that we could rise stronger,” Simpson says. “Through it all, our community believed in us, challenged us, and helped us persevere.”
Ken Henderson, chancellor and senior vice president for learning, introduces three student speakers.
The speakers are:
Isaiah D. Simpson, College of Engineering. Simpson is receiving a master of science in mechanical engineering. He was a gas distribution and asset engineer at National Grid. He was also the Makerspace supervisor at EXP and an MLK Scholar.
Kushal Shankar, Khoury College of Computer Sciences. Shankar is receiving a master’s degree in computer science. He was a server software intern at NVIDIA and a DevOps engineer at LambdaTest.
Kaitlyn Annas Gonyer, Bouvé College of Health Sciences. Gonyer, of Daegu, South Korea, is receiving a master’s degree in applied psychology. She is president of the Psychology Club. Gonyer was a behavioral health clinic intern at Camp Walker.
The three student speakers step up to the microphones together.
David Madigan, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, addresses graduates.
“As we gather for this momentous occasion, I would like to acknowledge those who helped make this achievement possible. Graduates, please rise to recognize the dedicated faculty and staff who challenged you, inspired you, and guided you on this journey,” Madigan says.
“Let us also thank your families, partners, and friends who cheered you on and helped you reach this milestone.”
“And, finally, Class of 2025, give yourselves a well-deserved round of applause. You have earned it,” Madigan says.
Chief Marshal Mary Jo Ondrechen asks graduates and their guests to stand as the color guard, from Liberty Battalion, the ROTC command that is hosted by Northeastern, is introduced.
Olivia Leto, of the Class of 2025, performs a beautiful rendition of the national anthem.
The chief marshal introduces Alexander Levering Kern, director of the Center for Spirituality, Dialogue and Service, for the invocation.
“We gather today as people of many global faiths and secular traditions of conscience. Before I offer our vocal prayer, please join me in a moment of silence so that each of us may reflect in our own way,” Kern says.
President Joseph E. Aoun and the president’s party enter the ballpark and advance to the stage.
The faculty procession is underway. The cadre of marshals leads the faculty procession to their seats on the field.
For the fifth straight year, the iconic home of the Boston Red Sox will welcome our graduates.
Fenway Park is only a short walk from the Northeastern campus.
Northeastern University began holding commencement at Fenway Park in 2022.
Known as Friendly Fenway because of the park’s intimate environment, Fenway Park is the home of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, and has been since 1912. The Red Sox had been playing at Huntington Avenue Grounds, which is now part of Northeastern University’s Boston campus. In 1911, the team owner built Fenway Park and it opened with the new season in 1912.
Meanwhile, the Huntington Avenue Grounds — where the first-ever World Series baseball game was held in 1903 — was demolished after the Red Sox moved to Fenway Park. The Cabot Center, an indoor athletic venue of Northeastern University, was built on the Huntington Grounds’ site in 1954.
A plaque and a statue of Cy Young were erected in 1993 at the location of the pitcher’s mound. There is also a plaque on the side of the Cabot Center that marks the former location of the left field foul pole and the path is called World Series Way.
Students enter the ballpark, many carrying flags.
Paws and Wally is high-fiving grads and posing for selfies with them.
On their way to their seats, many grads are turning to point and wave to their guests in the red seats of the Fenway grandstands.
The student procession is expected to take about 60 minutes.
The graduate procession is underway at @fenwaypark.Live updates: https://t.co/YClRqcxB9n pic.twitter.com/ZZ4NQbeqYr— Northeastern Global News (@NUGlobalNews) May 11, 2025
The graduate procession is underway at @fenwaypark.Live updates: https://t.co/YClRqcxB9n pic.twitter.com/ZZ4NQbeqYr
The outfield grass of Fenway Park, where the Boston Red Sox play baseball, is blanketed with a floor of white tiles. The graduates will be taking in their ceremony from five sections of chairs facing the stage, marked by Northeastern logos and sandwiched by a pair of video boards.
Live music during this prelude is provided by Majestic Brass, Wind Ensemble and the Northeastern Pep Band.
It’s going to take approximately 60 minutes for everyone to march in and be seated.
Northeastern banners and logos are visible throughout Fenway. Home plate is covered with the university seal and the pitcher’s mound features a Northeastern logo. Northeastern banners are beaming from many of the scoreboards, including # Like A Husky around the park.
Chief Marshal Mary Jo Ondrechen, carrying the university mace, leads the student procession onto the field. The cadre of marshals lead the graduates in five files into the seating.
Ondrechen made her debut as chief marshal at the President’s Convocation for new students at the start of the fall semester. She was elected chief by the cadre of marshals after professor Christopher Bosso, the chief marshal for the last three years, decided to make the position rotational. Ondrechen is the first female chief marshal.
Today will be her first commencement ceremony in the role.
Rise and shine, Class of 2025. @fenwaypark is waiting for you! 🌅 pic.twitter.com/S7pjq9KXSX— Northeastern U. (@Northeastern) May 11, 2025
Rise and shine, Class of 2025. @fenwaypark is waiting for you! 🌅 pic.twitter.com/S7pjq9KXSX
Three graduate students will be speaking during the commencement this morning.
The speakers are Kaitlyn Annas Gonyer (Bouvé College of Health Sciences), Kushal Shankar (Khoury College of Computer Sciences) and Isaiah D. Simpson (College of Engineering).
Entrepreneur David Roux will be the speaker at this morning’s graduate commencement.
Roux, a native of Lewiston, Maine, is chairman of BayPine, a private investment company. He is a co-founder, former chairman and co-chief executive officer of Silver Lake, the world’s largest technology-focused private equity firm.
The Roux Institute — based at Northeastern’s Portland campus — is the product of David and Barbara Roux’s recognition that Maine needed more talent in digital and life sciences. The Rouxs’ goal was to invest in a research and innovation ecosystem that would enable Maine-based companies to get up to speed in the digital era, encourage U.S. businesses to relocate their operations to the state, and generate startup companies.
The doors to Fenway Park are open. Guests are arriving through Gates A, D and E.
The concessions are open. The Rocky theme is playing.
Pre-show emcee Samuel Iannone, Class of 2027, welcomes the Northeastern community.
“Let’s be real — Commencement at Fenway Park? Iconic,” says Iannone.
Performances take place by Revolve Dance Crew Rangila Dance Melody with Kinematix, New England Bhangra Club, Kaliente, and the Northeastern University Dance Team, which won the national championship.
Paws interacts with guests and students.
More than 50,000 people are expected to fill Fenway Park for today’s graduate and undergraduate ceremonies. Commencements are also planned over the next two weeks for Northeastern’s global campuses, including Silicon Valley, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver.
The Oakland campus held its commencement last week. Graduating senior Teddy Johnstone told the crowd gathered on Holmgren Meadow that the world needs the very qualities that have helped this year’s graduating class get to where they are.
“I see something very similar in all of us, a deep curiosity and an iron will to move the world forward for all people,” Johnstone said.
@northeasternu see you in a few hours, Huskies! #northeastern #northeasternuniversity #graduation2025 #commencement #commencement2025 #gradszn #classof2025 #sunrise ♬ Sweet Disposition FeelingBlew – Feelingblew
see you in a few hours, Huskies! #northeastern #northeasternuniversity #graduation2025 #commencement #commencement2025 #gradszn #classof2025 #sunrise
Commencement day is here for more than 12,000 Northeastern University graduates and their families and friends.
The graduate ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. and the undergraduate ceremony at 4 p.m.
Northeastern Global News is here at Fenway Park providing live updates throughout the day.
The graduate ceremony speaker this morning will be technology entrepreneur David Roux, who, along with his wife, Barbara, partnered with Northeastern in 2020 to launch the Roux Institute in Portland, Maine.
The graduate program also includes addresses by student speakers Kaitlyn Annas Gonyer (Bouvé College of Health Sciences), Kushal Shankar (Khoury College of Computer Sciences) and Isaiah D. Simpson (College of Engineering).
There are 5,596 graduating graduate students.
The undergraduate ceremony this afternoon will feature an address by Elliot Grainge, a successful entrepreneur, record executive and Northeastern graduate.
The undergraduate program will also include student speakers Luke Brothers (Bouvé College of Health Sciences), Jizelle Dorego (D’Amore-McKim School of Business) and Daunte Pean (College of Engineering).
There are 6,493 graduating undergraduate students.
Northeastern President Joseph E. Aoun will deliver remarks in the morning and afternoon.
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