Gettysburg College’s 190th Commencement celebrated the diverse and accomplished Class of 2025 with inspiring reflections on connection, belief, and the impact of higher education.
On Saturday, May 17, under the open and sunny sky on the north lawn of Pennsylvania Hall, Gettysburg College proudly celebrated its 190th Commencement Ceremony, honoring the 551 members of the Class of 2025. Against a backdrop of waving orange and blue flags, beaming family members, and a sea of caps and gowns, the ceremony was not only a reflection of individual achievement, but also a tribute to the shared experiences and intersections that define the Gettysburg journey.
This year’s graduating class is the most diverse in the College’s history, representing 30 states and 20 countries from around the world. From Kathmandu, Nepal, to Montclair, New Jersey, and from London, England, to Houston, Texas, the breadth of perspectives and experiences on display underscored the global reach and inclusive ethos of Gettysburg College.
In his opening remarks, President Bob Iuliano reminded graduates of the profound and often unseen impact of community, using the example of pioneering academic leader Ruth Simmons. As an African-American woman born in East Texas in the 1940s, Simmons defied the odds and refused to let the limited expectations and opportunities of her early childhood define her. Empowered by a caring family, teachers who believed in her, and a community of supporters, she pursued a consequential life, earning a Ph.D. from Harvard University and ultimately becoming the first woman to be president of Brown University and the first African American to serve as president of an Ivy League institution.
“As I look out over this remarkable class, I see in very tangible ways the equally remarkable impact of the education you have received.”
– President Bob Iuliano
“We do not travel alone in this life,” Iuliano said. “Consider your Gettysburg friends, coaches, dining staff, folks in College Life, so many others. I’m confident that your journey has benefited from the many ways, some small, perhaps a few quite profound, that you have been guided, lifted up, and cheered on by others on our campus.”
Like Smith, the Class of 2025 “pushed boundaries, rejected assumptions, and confronted challenges” said Iuliano. Enlightened by a rigorous academic curriculum and emboldened by a breadth of unique experiential learning opportunities, the graduates became more than the people they expected to be four years ago.
“As I look out over this remarkable class, I see in very tangible ways the equally remarkable impact of the education you have received,” Iuliano stated.
Representing the graduating class as its student speaker was Ratul Pradhan ’25, a computer science and individualized major in business, management, and analytics from Darjeeling, India, and Kathmandu, Nepal. With grace and insight, Pradhan spoke about the quiet beauty and deep impact of human connection and how it helped him grow during his time at Gettysburg.
“Our lives are a network of these intersections,” he said. “Some intersect briefly, never to meet again, some may last a few years, and some may end up parallel for life. My intersections allowed me to leave my small mark within my community, surrounded by people I believed in, but more importantly, people who believed in me.”
During his time on campus, Pradhan expanded the campus through his work in the Offices of Residential Education and Student Activities and Greek Life, helping other students find their own community through College housing and innovative new gathering spaces. He also co-founded Listeners and Performers, a student-run group that brings people together through music. Like many of his classmates, Pradhan’s impact extended well past the borders of campus thanks to opportunities and fellowships through organizations like the Eisenhower Institute.
Pradhan encouraged his classmates to cherish the impressions left by those connections and to be open to new intersections waiting just beyond the horizon.
“Each and every one of us here today has created our own story, woven deeply within these intersections,” Pradhan said. “Be proud of these achievements and look towards a future with a brand-new set of intersections waiting to be created.”
Two alumnae were awarded honorary degrees during the ceremony. Elizabeth Anderson ’82, a former music major at Gettysburg, was given an honorary Doctor of Music in recognition of her groundbreaking work as a composer and teacher of electroacoustic music.
Carol Daly Cantele ’83, P’15, a celebrated Hall of Fame lacrosse coach and former health and physical education major, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science in Physical Education. Cantele then stepped to the podium overlooking the assembled crowd to deliver a heartfelt and inspiring address as the keynote speaker.
“Forty-two years ago, as a member of the Class of 1983, I took the same walk you just did this morning—right through the center of campus, with nerves, excitement, and possibility hanging in the air,” she said. “Whatever it is—if you believe it, you can achieve it. Belief is powerful. Don’t let doubt—yours or anyone else’s—define your story.”
Based on decades of coaching championship teams and empowering student-athletes to pursue their dreams on and off the field, Cantele reminded the Class of 2025 that preparation, passion, teamwork, and trusting in yourself can lead to incredible things. On the field, she encouraged her players to “live like it’s game day,” and she imparted that same mantra to the gathered graduates in front of Penn Hall.
“That mindset—of showing up, being present, playing with heart, and giving it your all—doesn’t just belong on the field. It belongs in the classroom, the boardroom, your relationships, and in your toughest moments,” Cantele noted. “As you step off this historic campus, I challenge you to carry the spirit of Gettysburg with you. Embrace the unknown with courage, pursue your passions with vigor, and most importantly, live every day like game day.”
The ceremony also recognized the academic achievements of this year’s co-salutatorians and co-valedictorians. All five students exemplified the intellectual rigor and dedication that define the Gettysburg student experience.
The race for salutatorian produced a rare three-way tie between political science major Danny Craddock ’25, biochemistry and molecular biology and mathematics double major Dylan Kemmerer ’25, and biochemistry and molecular biology major Alessandro Zuccaroli ’25.
“Embrace the unknown with courage, pursue your passions with vigor, and most importantly, live every day like game day.”
– Carol Daly Cantele ’83, P’15
Aayusha Lamichhane ’25, a mathematical economics major from Chitwan, Nepal, and Victor Greene ’25, a mathematics major from Norwood, Massachusetts, were named co-valedictorians and shared responsibility for posting the class flag early in the ceremony.
Before President Iuliano’s final charge to the graduates, Vivian Davenport ’25, a music performance–voice major from Pasadena, Maryland, took the stage to perform the alma mater. Her soaring rendition offered a moving tribute to the community spirit that binds Gettysburgians across generations.
The 190th Commencement of Gettysburg College was a celebration of diversity, resilience, and promise. As the graduates turned their tassels and looked out across the horizon of their future, they did so grounded in the knowledge that their time at Gettysburg has not only prepared them for careers and challenges ahead, but has also woven them into a lasting and meaningful network of connection and purpose. Their story continues, one intersection at a time.
“What you have done in your four years here, and what you will do in the years ahead, that is the most powerful proof of how our country and our world are strengthened by higher education,” Iuliano said. “And it underscores why we all have a stake in ensuring that Gettysburg College and our entire system of higher education remain properly supported, open to talented students from all corners of society, and able to freely explore the hard issues of our past, present, and future.”
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Read President Iuliano’s full remarks.
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By Corey Jewart
Photos by Jason Minick and Shannon Palmer
Posted: 05/20/25