Randolph and Williston Commencement Recap

AMELIA VLAHOGIANNIS:

Encompassing five campuses and multiple learning sites, Vermont State University is situated on the lands and waters that have long served as places of convening and stewarded by generations of Indigenous peoples, particularly the Western Abenaki. 

We honor and respect the indigenous knowledge interwoven in these lands and waters, and we also recognize that a land acknowledgement is merely a first step toward addressing historical injustices. 

We commit to uplifting the Indigenous peoples and cultures present on these lands and waters and within our communities in alignment with our dedication to nurturing a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment where all members of the community are valued and respected. 

Before we go any further, let’s take a moment to celebrate the heart of today’s event—our graduates. Please join me in a round of applause for the VTSU Class of 2025!  

Good afternoon and welcome to you all. I expect it’s an especially good afternoon for our graduates, and maybe an even better one for the family and friends who are celebrating here with us today.

Thank you all for joining us here in Randolph Center on this glorious Vermont day as we celebrate the achievements of our graduates from the Williston and Randolph campuses. Thank you, students, for all the hard work you put in to get here, thank you families and friends for your unwavering support, and thank you VTSU faculty and staff for your passion and dedication to our students and their success

I am joined on this stage today by, Chancellor Beth Mauch, Board of Trustees Chairwoman Lynn Dickenson, Trustee David Durfee, Trustee Megan Culver, Provost Nolan Atkins, Dean of Students Jamia Danzy, Dean of Nursing and Heath Sciences Caitlyn Stover, College Marshall & Mace Bearer Dr. Carl Brandon.

It is our collective honor and deep privilege to be here with you all today and to bear witness to your triumph – to watch all of you – Vermont State University’s second graduating class – cross this stage and collect the diploma/credential you have earned.  

We are all here to celebrate not only this thrilling moment in your educational career – with the gowns and the photographers and the handshaking, and the tears of joy (mostly mine) – but also the countless invested hours that led to this moment. Hours of studying, questioning, practicing, planning, programming, building, testing, trying, failing, and trying again with the industriousness, creativity, and dogged determination that defines Vermont State University students and will serve you well throughout your personal and professional lives.  

As you prepare to embark on the next chapter – whether that be a first job, a new job, a promotion, a new degree – I want to draw attention to a few often overlooked, but highly valuable competencies you have developed in your time as a VTSU student – gifts I hope you will continue to nurture and practice throughout your life.

Curiosity, Flexibility, and Courage.  

Be curious. 

Curiosity is how you started this journey. Curiosity led you to VTSU – curiosity about who you are, how you learn, what you love, and how you can learn to do what you love better and make a living at it. Maybe your curiosity pushed you to take an extra lab, join a club, take a class online, travel abroad, go to a conference, pursue an internship or an apprenticeship, or do something that really, really freaked you out. Your curiosity probably also led you astray once or twice along the way, because, despite what they say about the dubious relationship between curiosity and cats, few real, worthy journeys in life follow a perfect or linear path. 

Stay curious about people—especially those who may think differently than you. Ask more questions than you answer, and challenge yourself to listen and truly hear what others are saying – both their words, and their meaning. Learn new skills, even when you don’t have to. Read as much as you can. And never assume you’ve got it all figured out, because in my own experience, moments of surety most often occur right before the universe decides to teach me a lesson.   

Curiosity will keep you growing long after you leave the classroom. It will keep you sharp and protect you from complacency. Curiosity is a gift, albeit sometimes an uncomfortable one, that, perhaps most importantly, will lead you to empathy, kindness, creativity, and innovation— vital qualities we need more of in the world today. 

Be flexible. 

If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that life is unpredictable and change is constant. Sometimes you may CHOOSE to change careers, change cities, change skills, change direction.  And sometimes, change may not be your choice, but a requirement.  

Whether you are off to start your first career, or your 3rd, you will likely all face moments that challenge your plans—and your patience. 

And again, that’s okay. 

Success rarely looks like what we imagine or expect. You will face some challenges that are easily navigated, and others that test your character, strength, and resolve in the extreme. Facing the ebb and flow of life’s challenges with flexibility allows you to pivot without losing purpose. To adapt without losing agency. To be resilient, rather than rigid. Maintaining an ethos of agility will allow you to embrace change over time, not as an obstacle to conquer, but as a partner in your growth. 

Finally, and perhaps most importantly: Be courageous. 

Our world is complex and fast-moving. You will encounter uncertainty, disappointment, and moments of doubt that require you to deploy more courage than you feel you possess. Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the decision that something else matters more. Courage is taking on a challenge with honor, fortitude, and purpose. Courage is speaking up when it would be easier to stay silent. It is abandoning what’s comfortable in pursuit of what’s meaningful.  

You don’t need to be fearless – no one truly is. You just need to be brave enough to take the first step, and then the second, and then the third, and so on. Some of the most important choices in your life will not come with a roadmap or a role model. But the courage to begin anyway, to try and be willing to fail, and then to try again—that’s what shapes true leaders, thinkers, and doers. 

Graduates, the world needs you now more than ever – not just your knowledge and skills, but your character. We need your curiosity to solve problems we haven’t yet imagined with empathy, respect, and kindness, we need your flexibility to navigate whatever challenges come next with patience and grace, and we need your courage to take the first steps. 

I want to take a moment to emphasize the importance of kindness – kindness to yourselves and to those with whom you are sharing your journey. We are all fellow travelers and we are all deserving of patience, grace, and support as we navigate this together.   

As I imagine the full scope of the positive impact you all will have within your families, your workplace, your communities and beyond, I am filled with a sense of deep hope and resounding optimism for our collective future.  

On behalf of Vermont State University and all the faculty and staff here on the Castleton Campus thank you. Thank you for trusting us with your education. Thank you for letting us learn, adapt, and grow with you.  

It’s been a true honor for all of us to share this part of your lives with you. 

Congratulations, graduates. 

PRESIDENT BERGH:
It is a tradition at Vermont State University that a graduating student is selected to address their peers. Today, we recognize this year’s Student Speaker, Erin Betters.

Born in Southwest Florida, Erin has called Central Vermont home for most of her life. Erin is a proud member of Alpha Delta Nu and has pursued nursing as her second career, following a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. After teaching preschool locally for a few years, Erin discovered her passion for nursing and decided to make the transition into the healthcare field. Throughout her time in the nursing program, and through her work at Gifford Medical Center, she has embraced new challenges and gained valuable experience. Erin aspires to become a pediatric nurse practitioner, where she hopes to blend her background in education with her nursing skills to make a positive impact on local children and their families. Please welcome Erin.

ERIN BETTERS:

First of all—we did it! Give yourselves a big round of applause. (gesture)

Seriously.

After everything we’ve been through, clapping for ourselves might be the most exercise we’ve gotten in weeks. (laughter beat) I’m standing here today as a proud nursing graduate, but I want to talk to all of us— whether you studied business, biology, art, or “how to survive group projects without completely losing your mind.” (laugh,
look around)

Let’s be honest: college wasn’t exactly what the brochures promised. (pause)

They forgot to mention things like:

• How you start the semester color-coded and organized…and end it using sticky notes and silent prayers.
• The delicate balance between “I need sleep” and “I need to pass.”
• And how your GPA and your blood pressure may rise and fall together— usually in the same week. (laugh pause)

Of course, for some of us—like those in the nursing program— the chaos came with extra caffeine and clinicals. We’ve had clinicals so early in the morning, even the sun was like, “You up?” (beat)

We’ve written so many care plans and patient notes, we started narrating our own lives like:

“Subjective: tired. Objective: can’t keep eyes open. Assessment: sleep deprivation as evidenced by nodding off. Plan: more coffee.” (pause for laughter)

We’ve mastered the art of looking calm while internally panicking— aka, the nurse face. (smirk, slight pause)

And we’ve been so sleep-deprived at times, our coffee needed coffee. (laugh beat)

At one point, we all diagnosed ourselves with at least five conditions while studying for exams— and somehow none of them were correct. If surviving nursing school isn’t a psych rotation, I don’t know what is. (big laugh pause)

But beyond the chaos and the comedy— I’ll never forget the feeling I got the first time a patient thanked me for washing their back. (pause, soften tone)

It seemed like such a small act… but in that moment, I realized— nursing isn’t just about procedures and passing medications

It’s about dignity. Presence. And making people feel seen. (beat)

And here’s the most amazing part— look around. We are not a one-size-fits-all graduating class.

We’re young.

We’re older.

We’re parents, veterans, first-gen students, second-career changers…and some of us are just trying to remember where we parked this morning. (laugh pause)

Some of us went to high school last year, and some of us went to high school before TikTok was a thing. (laugh beat) Some of us balanced school with full-time jobs, kids, aging parents—or all three— and we still showed up. That’s not just impressive…that’s superhero status. (applause pause)

We come from different places, cultures, and life experiences— but we shared something powerful:

The determination to keep going. To build something better— for ourselves, our families, and the communities we’ll serve. And what made it all a little more bearable?

This place. These people. (look around, warm tone)

There’s something special about our college community. It’s the way professors actually know your name— and somehow still know it when you show up in their office crying two semesters later. (gentle laugh)

It’s the librarians and staff at CAS who always had a kind word—or a snack. Shoutout to Clover and Ivy, who were always excited to greet you at the door and give you much-needed love after a tough exam or seven-hour lecture. (smile, pause)

It’s the clubs that turned classmates into friends— and the 2am group chats that became therapy sessions…and somehow kept us informed, entertained, and slightly more sane. (laughter pause)

On a more serious note: (shift tone slightly)

To the professors who challenged us, encouraged us, and occasionally extended a deadline when we were one coffee away from a nervous breakdown— thank you. (pause)

To our families and friends who supported us— emotionally, financially, and occasionally just by letting us sleep for 14 hours straight— thank you. (warm pause)

To the classmates who became friends… and the friends who became family— you made all the difference. (beat) Now, as we step off this stage and into the big, beautiful chaos of the real world, remember this:

We are not the same people who walked onto this campus years ago.

We’re smarter.

Stronger.

And if you’re in nursing— definitely more immune to the smell of bodily fluids. (laugh pause)

We’ve learned to heal. To think critically. To advocate. And to listen. We’ve learned that sometimes, the best medicine is laughter— and the bravest thing you can do is keep showing up… even when it’s hard. (beat)

The world needs what we’ve got.

Our knowledge.

Our compassion.

Our resilience.

And just maybe— our ability to take a nap anywhere, anytime. (laugh pause)

Congratulations, Class of 2025! We made it. Now go out there and make the world a little bit better— with your minds, your hearts, and yes, even your weirdly specific knowledge of electrolytes.

Thank you! (smile, pause for applause)

PRESIDENT BERGH:

Thank you, Erin. It is now my pleasure to introduce our Special Keynote Speaker Sophia Rivera. Originally from Columbus, New Jersey, Ms. Rivera received her Associate of Science degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from VTC two years ago. She was nominated for the Student Engineering Technician in 2023. She will be receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Manufacturing Engineering today and was recently distinguished as the Student Engineer of the Year for VTSU. Please welcome Sophia Rivera

SOPHIA RIVERA:

Good afternoon, students, faculty, staff, and loved ones of our graduates. I’d like to welcome you once again to the 2025 Vermont State University Commencement Ceremony. Before I begin, I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to those who chose me to speak as this year’s keynote speaker, as well as those who encouraged me in my decision to take on this challenge. It fills me with pride to stand before you both as a representative of the Randolph Campus, as well as a fellow graduating student.

To the class of 2025, I have had the privilege of participating and working alongside you in these past years, and I can say with full confidence that I know the time and the work that you have put into earning your degrees. I am honored to experience such a monumental moment with all of you.

So, for those who do not know me, I’ll give a little background. I came to this campus five years ago from my hometown of Columbus, New Jersey… Okay, thank you for not booing at New Jersey. I can’t tell you how many times confessing my home state to a Vermonter has been met with a reaction of cringe mixed with
a little fear.

And at first, I didn’t understand what the connotation was about where I come from, but after spending some time here, I’ve certainly begun to notice some of the cultural differences. One analogy of this is if you take driving on a
Vermont highway, like I-89, versus, say, fighting for your life on the New Jersey Turnpike. If you’re looking to brush up on your defensive driving, I highly recommend it!

I will say, though, I came to this school with some of the stereotypical traits you get from being from Jersey: constantly being in a rush, and perpetually minding my own business. Those traits have utility of their own, and I am proud of where I come from. But someone recently asked me what I’ll miss the most about Vermont. And when I give this question some honest thought, I’m going to miss the way life is done up here. Being on this campus, it took a little while for me to realize that here, I was not just another random face in a multitude of strangers.

There is a community here that knows me and has welcomed me these past few years. Being here in Randolph was my first experience in a small town. And I can honestly say what I believe I’ll miss the most about Vermont is the acceptance, accountability, and support I have been privileged with as a member of this little community.

I said in the beginning, I came to this school five years ago. When I began my college career, I was studying electromechanical engineering. It took me two whole years to come to the conclusion that I wanted to pursue Manufacturing instead for my bachelor’s degree. However, in doing so, I would need to take an additional year of classes. This would mean pushing my graduation a year past what I originally planned. This disruption of my future was almost too much for me, and I even considered just sticking it out where I was to avoid this extra year.
It was at this time that my mother so eloquently said, “Honey, one extra year will be nothing in the grand scheme of things, but doing what you truly want will mean everything”. To this day, I am so, so glad I did what we all have to do at times: and that’s to put your pride aside, and just listen to your mother.

Before I changed my major, in my previous studies, nothing seemed to really click for me. I found myself doubting everything from my intelligence to my work ethic, which were all things I thought made me who I am. But once I made the change, and started my new courses, it felt like I had finally stopped fighting an uphill battle. Not to say that everything suddenly was perfect and easy, but I was able to start building back the confidence I thought I would never regain. It has now been three years since I made that choice, and that single decision started what feels like an avalanche of changes in my life.

A couple of years ago, with some of my newly regained confidence, I decided I would begin trying to make a dream of mine into reality. So, another little fact about me is I… love… Makeup. Bear with me, I promise this is going somewhere. I have been intrigued by all things cosmetics and skincare since I was a little girl. I remember when I was studying mechanical design at my CTE High school back home, thinking, ‘I wonder if there is some way to combine all of the things I’m learning in the classroom with a job working in cosmetics. But I quickly pushed that fantasy aside, and deemed it as just that: a simple fantasy of a made-up career. However, just two years ago, as I was applying for summer internships, I found myself in a state of shock and disbelief. I had discovered that there was a cosmetics company close to my hometown, and offering summer internships that were directly related to what I had been learning in my manufacturing courses. I applied to this, as well as many other companies, sadly, to be met with nothing but rejection after rejection. I’ll be honest, I was really disappointed. But at the same time, just knowing there was a path to the career I had only dreamed of up until then, left me feeling focused on a very specific goal. At that same time, the following year, I would apply to that company once again. Now, with significantly more experience, I got the internship. Flash forward one more year, bringing us to today, I am filled with immense joy (and relief) to say that I have accepted a formal job offer with this company, where I will be starting my career after graduation. The preparation I received here at Vermont State University is undoubtedly what allowed me to make an impression with this company that would lead to the offer, and I cannot understate the value this institution has brought me.

Beyond just this school, there are some friends and loved ones whose love and support brought me to where I am today.

Professor Cornwall, your guidance and support for me in these past three years means more than you will ever know. So much of the confidence I was able to regain happened in your classes, where you never failed to uphold the highest expectations for both skill and creativity. Thank you for never turning down my insanely elaborate, and insanely nerdy, project ideas.

Paul and Ian, I am so grateful that despite the statistical likelihood, that our paths crossed here. You two have my utmost respect, and I have been looking up to you both with admiration as we have worked together these past few years. Beyond that, your acceptance of me with all my many many quirks has meant so much to me, and I thank you for your friendship. I look forward to the day our paths cross again.

You all are making my departure from Vermont much harder than I had anticipated it would be when I first came to this school. But in a way, I am also grateful to have goodbye’s that are this hard to say.

Sarah, to this day I am positive that our friendship gives new meaning to the term ‘platonic soul mate’. Regardless of how true that actually is, just know that there is no one on this earth who knows me better than you do, and no one could have supported me in the ways you have. I could not have done any of this without you.

And finally, Mom and Dad, your continuous love and sacrifice is what made me who I am. This is just one of many thanks that will still never fully repay you for the life you gave me. Everyday I learn a little more how blessed I am to have been born into our little family. Know that I love you eternally

As I am reflecting upon each of the stages I have been through in these past few years, it truly is a difference of night and day from where I started. Yet at the same time, completing five years of school has gone by in the blink of an eye…Just like my mom said it would. I think I’m only just beginning to understand how quickly our lives move. From what I have been told by people who are much older, and certainly much wiser than I, is that time only starts moving faster and faster after this. My fellow graduates, I am sure you can relate to this feeling. That the point when you first embarked upon earning your degrees is somehow both just like yesterday, and also a lifetime away from where you are now. You are not the same person you were two, four, five years, or however long this journey has been for you.

Class of 2025, you should leave here today feeling incredibly proud of the work you have put in these past few years, especially those achievements you never would have thought possible before. As we begin this new chapter in our lives, I hope we can continue to reflect on how far we have come and let that
serve as a reminder of how far we can go. Thank you

HANNAH REID:

My name is Hannah Reid, and as VTSU’s Vice President of Communications, Alumni and External Affairs, I’m honored to introduce a Vermont Tech graduate whose service spans both the military and our
VTSU community. Mark Moyer, Class of 1996 and a U.S. Army veteran of Operation Desert Storm, now leads the Vermont Technical College Alumni Association. He brings fresh energy to this role, helping alumni share their real-world experience to support the next generation of students. Please join me in welcoming Mark Moyer.

MARK MOYER:
On behalf of the Alumni Association, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the Class of 2025. It is hard to believe that I crossed this stage 29 years ago. The education that I received here has led me on a fantastic journey both professionally and personally. We encourage you to stay connected, support one another, and remain engaged with the VTSU community and VTCAA. We look forward to seeing all that you will accomplish—and we’re proud to call you fellow alumni. Congratulations!

PRESIDENT BERGH:

Today, we are proud to recognize a group of truly exceptional individuals whose dedication and achievements deserve special acknowledgment, they students of The Vermont Academy of Science
and Technology, or VAST, Established in 1989, VAST was created to inspire young Vermonters to excel in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. As an accredited, independent high school, VAST offers a distinctive opportunity: students complete their senior year of high school while simultaneously beginning their college education.

By choosing VAST, these students make a bold decision—to leave behind the traditional senior year at their public, private, or homeschool settings and fully immerse themselves in a college environment. From day one, they begin earning college credits, effectively jumpstarting their higher education and answering the question, “Am I ready for college?” with a resounding yes.

This program is not for the faint of heart. It demands resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to step beyond one’s comfort zone.

To appreciate the significance of their achievement: statewide, Vermont has approximately 5,800 high school seniors this year. The VAST students represent just 0.22% of that total—an extraordinary distinction that speaks volumes about their talent, motivation, and courage.

Please join me in celebrating the accomplishments of the VAST Class of 2025!

Now, it is my pleasure to introduce the VAST Program Director, Professor Joan Richmond Hall.

PROFESSOR JOAN RICHMOND HALL

Thank you, President Bergh.

To our VAST students: It has been a true privilege to accompany each of you on this transformative journey. Your dedication, perseverance, and personal growth over the past year have been nothing short of inspiring.

I would also like to extend heartfelt thanks to your families and friends. Your steadfast support has played a vital role in these students’ success. Thank you, families and friends, for walking this path alongside
them.

Now, it is my great pleasure to announce the top honors for the VAST Class of 2025:

• Valedictorian: Geo Cuciti, with a GPA of 3.98
• Salutatorian: Joshua Paul Luzzatto, with a GPA of 3.95

Please join me in congratulating Geo and Joshua on their exceptional accomplishments!

Now, I have the honor of presenting a particularly meaningful award: the Oak Clifford Scholarship.

This scholarship honors the memory of Oak V. Clifford, a member of the VAST Class of 2002. A native of West Hartford and graduate of Woodstock High School, Oak was admired for his quiet strength, generosity, and entrepreneurial drive. He organized a blood drive in the aftermath of 9/11 and ran his own tree-cutting business—all while still a student.

Tragically, Oak’s life was cut short in an automobile accident while he was attending Clarkson University.
In his memory, Oak’s parents established an endowed scholarship to support VAST students who plan to pursue degrees in engineering or technical fields at Vermont State University—ensuring that Oak’s spirit of service, leadership, and curiosity lives on in future generations.

This year, we are proud to present the Oak Clifford Scholarship, in the
amount of $750, to:

Quinn Patrick Lena, a Computer Information Technology student on our Williston campus, with an outstanding GPA of 3.95.

In addition to his academic excellence, Quinn is known for his steady character and his positive, inclusive attitude—qualities that beautifully reflect the legacy of Oak Clifford, for whom this special award is named. Quinn, please stand to be recognized.

Congratulations, Quinn! And congratulations to the entire VAST Class of 2025!

Thank you all for your attention.