Celebrating Park Commencement: Class of 2025

Friends, family and faculty mentors of the Park Scholars Class of 2025 gathered on May 1 to celebrate their academic milestones and many achievements. The Park Commencement Ceremony was held at the Park Alumni Center, where guests and Park staff mingled with scholars and honored their accomplishments.

Community Committee Co-Chairs

The Community Committee Co-Chairs, Katelyn Coleman ‘25 and Gia Nelson ‘25, welcomed guests and introduced speakers. Their role in the ceremony helped to set a personal tone that reflected the light-hearted nature of the Park Scholars Class of 2025.

Commencement Speaker, Isaac Ali ’25

The Class of 2025 selected Isaac Ali ‘25 as their commencement speaker. Isaac graduated with a B.S. in biochemistry and a B.S. in history, with an impressive record of research and leadership. He delivered a thoughtful, deeply reflective speech that mirrored his personal experience as a Park Scholar. Isaac uplifted themes like searching for belonging and finding it in camaraderie with purpose-driven scholars in the Park community. In his address to peers, Isaac encouraged everyone to stay connected and to keep their Spiffy profiles updated!

2025 Park Faculty Scholars

The Class of 2025 Park Faculty Scholars, Dr. Trino Ascencio-Ibáñez and Dr. Kay Sandberg, were honored at the ceremony. They addressed the crowd with admiration for the students and gratitude for their time serving as Park Faculty Scholars. Following their remarks, the two greeted each Scholar as they crossed the stage.

At the end of the ceremony, they were gifted personalized recipe books, inspired by their class Salsa Night at Trino’s house. Each scholar provided a recipe, which was collected and designed by Katelyn Coleman ‘25 as Co-Chair of the Community Committee.

Final Kudos

After each Scholar in the Class of 2025 walked across the stage to receive their cord, Class Liaisons gave a final kudos. This refers to a Park tradition of acknowledging peer achievements at class meetings. During their time as students, the Class of 2025 decided to have their kudos take the form of puns. This carried into Commencement, as graduation plans were recognized at varying levels of wittiness.

Final Address

The ceremony drew to a close with the final address from Park Scholarships Director, Eva Feucht ‘02. She gave a heartfelt speech, tying together her personal notes about the Class of 2025. Her speech underscored the crucial role families and friends have in the success of Park Scholars. Feucht thanked donors and elaborated on the importance of giving. Before closing out the night, she reminded Scholars to stay engaged in as many ways as they can – to return as retreat facilitators, committee members, mentors, volunteers, and donors.

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