Class of 2025 Lights Up Thomas & Mack
The energy was unmistakable Monday as a wave of blue and gold swept through the Thomas & Mack Center. Friends and families filled the stands, holding colorful signs, blowing horns and cheering loudly as graduates took their seats. More than 100 volunteers helped keep the celebration running smoothly, handing out glow sticks, greeting guests and setting the tone for a day full of pride, emotion and joy.
The Class of 2025 is more than 4,000 strong, with graduates honored in both a morning and an afternoon ceremony to recognize students from every area of study. This year also marked a record-breaking milestone for CSN, with the highest number of bachelor’s degrees awarded in the college’s history.
This year’s 120 President’s Scholars were recognized for earning a perfect 4.0 GPA and were invited to a special meet and greet with Acting President Dr. William Kibler and incoming President Dr. Stacy Klippenstein before the ceremony. It was a moment to celebrate academic excellence and connect with CSN leadership.
Cody the Coyote was in attendance, making the rounds and snapping photos with proud grads. But the real stars of the show were the students themselves. Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. James McCoy reminded the crowd of the incredible perseverance it took to reach this moment.
“Each of you has a story uniquely your own,” McCoy said. “But you all share a willingness to do the hard work and get things done.”
He highlighted several graduates who overcame major life challenges to earn their degrees. Jessica Camp started as a CSN custodian 13 years ago and dreamed of sitting at the same desks she cleaned. After setbacks and stops along the way, she crossed the stage Monday. Steven Martinez, a traumatic brain injury survivor, made history as the first patient from USC Medical Center with his condition to graduate from college. Kenneth Freels pivoted to computer technology after losing his wife and being grounded from aviation. And Chung-Suk Yu, CSN’s oldest graduate this year at 72, returned to school for a creative writing degree after a decades-long journey.
Acting President Dr. Kibler shared heartfelt advice drawn from Anna Quindlen’s A Short Guide to a Happy Life. He urged graduates to prioritize people over titles and presence over hustle.
“Don’t ever confuse your life and your work,” Kibler said. “Get a life that is rich with people, generosity and meaning.”
Student speaker Hisonni Mustafa brought the crowd to its feet with a powerful speech about returning to school while juggling fatherhood and life’s demands. An award-winning filmmaker, he credited CSN’s faculty and support programs with helping him finish what he started.
“Education isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being persistent,” he said.
As names were read and degrees were conferred, graduates cracked glow sticks and lit up the arena in a colorful symbol of hope and celebration. Dr. McCoy offered one final charge to the Class of 2025.
“Look around you. You’re surrounded by hundreds of people who are about to change the world.”
View photos from Commencement 2025: Click here for View photos from Commencement 2025
Watch video message from Dr. Kibler: Click here for Watch video message from Dr. Kibler
Watch video messages from Graduates: Click here for Watch video messages from Graduates