ECSU Grads Celebrate Culmination Of College Careers

HARTFORD — Nearly 1,000 new college graduates celebrated one of the most memorable moments in their young lives Tuesday at Eastern Connecticut State University's 132nd commencement exercises.

Based in Willimantic, ECSU was finally able to return to the XL Center in Hartford for the first time in three years to conduct graduation exercises.

Ceremonies in 2020 and 2021 were impacted by the pandemic, taking place virtually and at in Willimantic, respectively.

Looking out at graduates and upwards of 10,000 guests, commencement speaker Lena Rodriguez, president and chief executive officer of the Community Renewal Team in Hartford, said “the pride and joy emanating in this XL Center is exhilarating. From here I see a sea of happiness and anticipation.”

A total of 958 undergraduates received their degrees, with 590 in the Eastern School of Arts and Sciences and 368 in the ECSU School of Education and Professional Studies.
More than 30 percent of the undergraduates were the first in their families to earn a bachelor’s degree.

As Connecticut’s only public liberal arts university, Eastern draws students from 163 of the state’s 169 towns, with approximately 85 percent of graduates staying in Connecticut, according to ECSU officials.

Rodriguez offered graduates words of wisdom regarding four important personal attributes — perseverance, courage, confidence and service.

“Know that you will fail at something, at some point — we all do . . . but you must rise and persevere. Learn from failure and move on.” Rodriguez said, quoting Eleanor Roosevelt, who wrote: “look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.”

Rodriguez has led a range of large-scale, programs created to support people in need in Greater Hartford, including CRT Generations, a housing development in Hartford for grandparents with legal custody of their grandchildren; Veterans Crossing, a transitional residence for homeless veterans in East Hartford; and The Retreat, an assisted living facility in Hartford for low-income seniors.

The commencement speaker also told graduates Eastern had prepared them well for their journey.

“Take every skill you have acquired throughout these four years, place them in your personal toolbox, and lead with confidence and courage, as you are prepared,” she said.

Finally, Rodriguez acknowledged the work that Eastern students perform in the local Willimantic community — providing more than 200,000 hours of service since ECSU opened the Center for Community Engagement in 2009.

Rodriguez also received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Eastern in a special hooding ceremony during the graduation exercises.

Other speakers included Eastern President Elsa Núñez; Holly Howery of the Board of Regents for Higher Education; and Karina Torres, senior class president, who also presented Núñez with the class gift.
Núñez said "tonight is a time for new beginnings. Each of you has a dream, talents you were born with. Your Eastern education has honed those talents and prepared you for the world ahead. Grasp your future with both hands."

Torres described a visit to campus in spring 2018 when she was introduced to an enthusiastic faculty member.

“That was the moment I knew I wanted to come to Eastern in hopes that it was full of individuals like ( ECSU Physical Education Professor Dan) Switchenko, who were not only dedicated to their fields, but also committed to working toward the success of those around them," Torres said. "The world is an unpredictable place and all I can say is take it day by day."

Howery called the graduates “the future of Connecticut,” and said the graduation event was “a unique commencement because of everything our students have done to this point — and your support network has been more important than ever in recent years.”

Video greetings were shared on the Jumbotron from U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal; Board of Regents Chairkman Matt Fleury; and Terrence Cheng, president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System.

The return to the XL Center included several Eastern commencement traditions, ranging from the colorful Governor’s Foot Guard in attendance to the opening musical stylings of the Thread City Brass Quintet.

Graduates also tossed a penny into a special fountain in keeping with the university’s “Make a Wish” tradition.

Seniors Emily Gillespie, Nina Griffin, Sarah Potter and Samantha Warshauer sang “America the Beautiful.”

A new twist to commencement was a special composition by Eastern’s World Percussion Ensemble, which was performed as the platform party processed in.

Grand Marshal Andrew Utterback presided over commencement exercises; senior Cristhian Rodriguez gave the invocation; and ECSU History Professor Caitlin Carenen was recognized as the 2022 Distinguished Professor.