KINGSTON, R.I.—May 28, 2025— While members of URI’s Class of 2025 may have graduated high school amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, missing many of the typical high school milestones, they described their college careers and their time at URI as transformative.
Student speakers Helene Tjoumakaris, Lucia Caito, Lauren Peckham, Jennifer Melgar, Joceline Rodrigues, Puja (Diya) Banerjee, Klara Nelander, Sarina Thapar and Colby Constantine each addressed their peers during the University of Rhode Island’s Commencement ceremonies, May 16-18, at the Ryan Center. They talked about perseverance, of finding themselves, of meeting new friends and mentors, and of achieving more than they thought they ever could.
Each of them expressed their love and gratitude to friends, family members, and to the family they found at URI—whether that family was found in a classroom, on a team, or in a student organization—as well as their excitement to face the future and change the world. We know that they will.
Watch their speeches.