Bentley Graduates 1,500 Students At 2023 Commencement Events

WALTHAM, MA — Nearly 7,000 people were in attendance at Bentley University's undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday.

The university graduated 1,523 students in ceremonies over the weekend, including 962 undergraduates.

Bentley's undergraduate ceremony served as an interesting first in the current history of the NCAA, too, as former Massachusetts Governor and current NCAA President Charlie Baker provided the keynote address, his first in the new role.

In his remarks, Baker pointed out that his father is a Republican and his mother was a Democrat, something that helped him understand how to consider different points of view.

"Be a good listener," he said. "You learn more when you listen — even if you don’t always want to hear what’s being said."

Baker also encouraged graduates to create a strong support system of family and friends around them.

"Appreciate that life is a team sport, and that purpose usually comes from shared commitments," Baker said.

Sharing an excerpt from a letter he wrote to his daughter at her college graduation, he told graduates, "do not fear challenges and disappointments. Growth is often about getting comfortable with being uncomfortable and learning from difficult moments."

Baker received an honorary doctorate of commercial science degree at the ceremony.

A photo gallery from the commencement ceremonies can be viewed here, while more on the ceremonies themselves can be viewed here.