Go show the world why Creative Thought Matters

With calls to be courageous, compassionate, and above all else creative, Skidmore College conferred 628 degrees during its 114th Commencement Exercises. 

Hundreds of family members, friends, and members of the Skidmore community gathered to honor the Class of 2025 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on Saturday, May 17. 

Members of the class hail from 42 countries, 35 U.S. states, and Puerto Rico. Skidmore conferred 412 Bachelor of Arts and 216 Bachelor of Science degrees. 

Poetjournalist Aaron P. Dworkin and Adam D. Weinberg, director emeritus of the Whitney Museum of American Art, both received honorary degrees and addressed the graduates. 

Speakers encouraged the graduates to seek truth, embrace wonder, and draw lessons from a Skidmore education rooted in Creative Thought Matters as they confront a complex world and build a better future. 

Members of the Class of 2025 arrived at Skidmore amid the lingering uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. During their four years, they have succeeded in building community, supporting one another, and treating one another with respect and kindness at a time of major transformation for the United States and the world. 

Jon P. Achenbaum ’77, chair of the Board of Trustees, reflected on both the excitement of graduation day and the challenges ahead. Acknowledging the divided and fast-changing world the graduates are entering, he urged them to apply Skidmore’s core values to their lives and careers. 

Jon P. Achenbaum ’77

“Creativity, caring, and curiosity are not just words in a mission statement. They are guiding principles that will shape your successes and our collective future. Class of 2025, as you embark on the next chapter of your lives, carry these Skidmore values with you. Be the architects of change, the custodians of compassion, and seekers of truth in a complex world.”

Marc C. Conner, president of Skidmore College, opened his remarks by referencing both "The Hobbit" and "Shrek" to explore the dual themes of courage and complexity. He praised the Class of 2025 for navigating a world marked by uncertainty and rapid change, and emphasized the importance of moral clarity, intellectual rigor, and kindness. Urging graduates to resist oversimplified answers and uphold freedom of expression through genuine listening and respectful engagement, Conner concluded with a call to face the world with bravery and hope.

Marc C. Conner

“Be bold. Be humble. Be courageous. Be kind. Tell the truth. Face this world’s complexity without fear. Stand firm in what you believe. You are what this world needs. And when you face your dragons, however horrible they may be, you will face them in the steadfast knowledge that you are doing what is right and what is brave. Now go take on the world.”

Skidmore awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to Aaron P. Dworkin, a 2005 MacArthur Fellow, best-selling author, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, a leading advocate for diversity in the arts, and poetjournalist (a term he first coined). Drawing on his personal journey and lifelong commitment to the arts, Dworkin called on the Class of 2025 to protect their imagination, curate their courage through quiet acts of purpose, and redefine the meaning of success.

Aaron P. Dworkin

“Skidmore is a rare and beautiful place. A college that doesn’t just tolerate difference but celebrates it. A place where intellect and imagination walk side by side. Where Creative Thought Matters isn’t a tagline — it’s an obligation to play an integral role in our society. ... We need your creative minds, your restless questions, your passion, and your poetry of possibility. You are not just graduates. You are architects of the future.”

Skidmore also awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to Adam D. Weinberg, director emeritus and honorary trustee of the Whitney Museum of American Art. Weinberg hailed Skidmore’s Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, as a model of innovation and community engagement. He encouraged graduates to embrace life’s uncertainty and find resilience in its setbacks. Even as he expressed fears about the dismantling of arts and humanities programs across the nation, Weinberg affirmed the importance of institutions like Skidmore in cultivating imagination, creativity, and cultural leadership.

Adam D. Weinberg

“My journey was not linear. Life — as with art — never is, and it had many unexpected twists and turns. Time and again, my greatest disappointments led to my best experiences.”

Ronald P. Seyb, associate professor of political science, was selected by the Class of 2025 as this year’s faculty speaker. Known for his wit, warmth, and wordplay, Seyb delivered a speech that blended academic insight with references ranging from William Butler Yeats to Chappell Roan — echoing the tone of a farewell letter he wrote to the class. He urged graduates to hold fast to the spirit of “wonder” throughout their lives.

Ronald P. Seyb

“At the risk of offending, I will say that you will always be kids to me. I say this because during my many years at Skidmore, you have taught me how important it is to hold fast to that enchanting and intoxicating quality that children have in surplus: the capacity to experience wonder.”

Qavalina Andrade ’25, class president, reflected on the power of education to inspire connection, action, and lasting impact. Acknowledging the global challenges that shaped their college experience, she urged her classmates to open doors for others.

Qavalina Andrade ’25

“Looking back, it's clear our time here has been marked not just by exams and assignments and meeting the 10 million all-College requirements, but by resilience, adaptation, and growth. We've learned firsthand the value of community, solidarity, and compassion — qualities that extend far beyond the boundaries of this campus.”

The ceremony included a processional led by the Schenectady Pipe Band, a colorful display of stoles and cords symbolizing the graduates’ many achievements, and a moving performance by recent graduates of the College’s Alma Mater.  

Commencement followed a week of celebrations on campus for the Class of 2025. In addition to a variety of fun activities for the class, there were ceremonies hosted by Periclean Honors Forum, Phi Beta Kappa, and other offices and departments.   

On Friday, students and their families also participated in a Brick Dedication Ceremony for the Class of 2025 on the walkway outside Case Center.