KINGSTON, R.I. – May 19, 2025 – In front of a lively capacity crowd Friday at the Ryan Center, filmmaker Steven Feinberg offered a whimsical message for members of the University of Rhode Island’s Class of 2025 during the start of commencement weekend.

“Today, each and every one of us are here because we had a dream,” said Feinberg, executive director of the Rhode Island Film and Television Office, who over the course of his career has shepherded more than $900 million in film and TV production into the state. “We dreamed of a better life, of having fun, of bettering ourselves, of seeing how good we could actually be, of finding our purpose.”

Feinberg’s words were delivered during the College of Arts and Sciences Commencement, one of eight graduation ceremonies celebrating the URI Class of 2025. During commencement weekend, May 16-18, the University awarded about 3,515 undergraduate and graduate degrees upon 3,300 graduates.

Feinberg, who was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters earlier in the commencement ceremony with his 88-year-old mother in the crowd and his father, a URI graduate, there in spirit, said his purpose was helped along by a daydream he had while driving in the family car. That daydream was that he might one day be in charge of movies in Rhode Island. “About 30 years later, by some miracle, the opportunity came my way. … But it all started with a daydream,” he said.

“A daydream is great. But a daydream combined with hard work and action is even greater,” he added. “And a daydream combined with hard work and action and the partnership of other like-minded daydreamer teammates is the greatest power of all.” 

Along with Feinberg’s advice, President Marc Parlange, Gov. Dan McKee, and other URI officials offered praise and encouragement to the graduates, ringed by family and friends who made the Ryan Center sound as if they were there for a playoff basketball game. 

“Today, we are here to celebrate a commencement–the culmination of your achievements, perseverance, and hard work,” said Parlange. “But commencement, by definition, also marks a beginning. As I look out here today, I see determined faces. I see the potential to shape the world. I see eagerness to challenge the status quo. I see hundreds of awesome graduates from the number-one ranked public university in New England and R1 research institution.”

URI Board of Trustees chair Margo Cook told graduates that while they enter a “complicated” world, they are not powerless. “The truth is, you have more power than you realize,” she said. “Not just because you have degrees in your hands—but because you have voices, values, and a generation with you that isn’t content to sit on the sidelines. You don’t have to wait your turn. You are the turn.”

In his remarks, McKee praised the graduates’ resilience in the face of hurdles like the pandemic during their time at URI, and urged them to make a difference, recalling a saying by his father, James McKee, a businessman who helped found the Boys & Girls Club in Cumberland.  

“My dad was one of my mentors. Along with helping to bring up five kids, he founded the Boys Club in our town. What are you going to contribute?” asked McKee. “My dad always said, ‘Remember, no matter what you strive for, if you have the desire, the ambition, the confidence, your chances of success are tremendous. Success is there for you. All you have to do is earn it.’”

In addition to marking the University’s Carnegie R1 classification  and its Wall Street Journal ranking, Commencement 2025 also marked an important milestone—the graduation of the 5,000th Talent Development scholar since the program’s start in 1968.

Milan Gil, a communications major from Providence and the first in his family to graduate college, was among the Talent Development scholars to graduate this spring.

“I wouldn’t be here without TD,” said Gil, waiting in the maze of hallways at the Ryan Center before the College of Arts and Sciences commencement. “Financially, I couldn’t afford it and there was a really good support system. My advisor, Corey, checked up on me a lot to make sure I stayed focused and he was really just involved in my academic career.” 

“My mom sacrificed a lot for me to be here,” he added. “So graduating means the world to me. I accomplished this for my family as well as myself and I know they’re very proud of me.” 

Nine student speakers across the weekend’s eight commencement ceremonies also shared messages that recalled the obstacles they and their classmates faced, from the pandemic to personal challenges.

“As we close this chapter of our lives and begin a new one, there will be so many complex feelings,” said Joceline Rodrigues, a first-generation student, addressing the graduates of the College of the Environment and Life Sciences and the Graduate School of Oceanography. “Whether this is happiness, anxiety, excitement, or even something you can’t quite yet put a label on, know that although we have constantly been living through unprecedented events, you can and will achieve all the goals that you set for yourself.”

Puja (Diya) Banerjee, who graduated with a Ph.D. in oceanography, recalled journeying away from her home in a small, hilly town in remote Northeast India. “Unfortunately, it’s a disaster-prone zone and having seen nature’s power of destruction, I knew I wanted to study Earth sciences,” she said. “Even though my parents were unsure about it, I set out from home with a bag of curiosity, a spark and gut feeling, and never looked back. No clear answers, no roadmaps. Yet, something did come of it. And here I am standing today wearing this doctoral hat.”

“When we first started this journey, none of us could have predicted that we’d be starting amid a global pandemic,” Sarina Thapar of Monroe, New Jersey, who graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, told fellow College of Pharmacy graduates. “There were moments when it felt like everything was against us–the isolation, the constant uncertainty, the challenges of navigating this new way of life. But we didn’t give up.”

“As we reflect on our time here, I am reminded of the challenges we’ve faced,” said Colby Constantine, of Leicester, Massachusetts, who graduated from the College of Engineering with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering. “From those grueling group projects that tested our patience to those moments of triumph when we finally understood a complex concept we thought we’d never grasp. Every challenge has contributed to our growth. We’ve learned how to collaborate with others, how to innovate, and perhaps most importantly, we’ve learned how to persevere.”

At the College of Arts and Sciences graduation, Lucia Caito of East Greenwich, who majored in English and human development and family science, reflected on the power of stories—sharing your own and listening to others’—a lesson she learned from her late father.

“I like to think of our stories as threads weaving ourselves into each other’s lives, making up a tapestry of belonging,” Caito said. “As we move forward, let us continue to tell our stories, but more importantly, let us continue to listen. Let us remain open to perspectives different from our own, to experiences we may never personally have, to truths that expand our worldview.”

“The Class of 2025 has faced uncertainty, loss, and immeasurable change,” said Lauren Peckham of East Haddam, Connecticut, who majored in psychology, criminology/criminal justice, and political science. “But we’ve also built community, found our voices, and stood up for what we believe in. We didn’t just react to the world around us; we responded with purpose and a mission: to make the world a better place.”

For Helene Tjoumakaris, a nursing graduate from Egg Harbor, New Jersey, her personal challenge came when she discovered her why—when she saw firsthand a nurse “turn fear into comfort” after her friend was diagnosed with kidney failure. 

“Every single person sitting here has their own why,” she said during the College of Nursing ceremony. “Whatever your why is—hold onto it. Because there will be days ahead that test you. There will be moments where you’re exhausted, frustrated, and questioning everything. But your why will always bring you back.”

For Jennifer Melgar of Providence, who graduated in elementary education, her journey at URI has been transformative, she told graduates of the Feinstein College of Education. “For me, this moment is more than just a celebration; it is a declaration. A declaration that Latinas belong in places of leadership, in education, and in advocacy. That our voices matter, that our presence is powerful, and that our contributions are essential. I will continue to advocate for students of diverse backgrounds and needs, ensuring that they see themselves reflected in their teachers, their leaders, and their role models.”

Klara Nelander also recalled a challenge to her fellow College of Business graduates. The finance major wasn’t sure she had made the right choice when she came to URI from Malmo, Sweden. But her parents urged to give it a year. “I know each of you has had your own version of this experience,” she said. “Starting college isn’t easy for anyone, whether you’re from another country, another state, or even just down the road. Think back to your freshman year, think about the person you were, and now look at who you’ve become today.”