UVA Wise Celebrates the Class of 2025 at Commencement Ceremony

The University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVA Wise) celebrated the remarkable achievements of the Class of 2025 during its Commencement Ceremony today, May 10, at the David J. Prior Convocation Center. This year’s graduates, who focused on a wide array of academic disciplines, celebrated the culmination of years of hard work, determination and personal growth as they received their degrees in front of proud family, friends, faculty and staff.

The ceremony was filled with joy and reflection as nearly 300 undergraduate students crossed the stage, receiving their diplomas and stepping into the next chapter of their lives. Eight officers were commissioned through the College’s ROTC program and 24 graduate students received their Master of Education degree. 

The event not only honored academic accomplishments, but also the spirit of resilience and community that defines UVA Wise’s educational experience.

In her address to the graduates, Chancellor Henry praised the Class of 2025 for their perseverance, noting the challenges they overcame during their time at the college, both personal and academic. “Today is a celebration not just of the degrees you’ve earned, but of the people you have become along the way. You’ve faced obstacles, adapted to change, and shown resilience. These are the traits that will carry you forward as you step into the world,” said Henry.

The ceremony’s keynote speaker, Governor Glenn Youngkin, urged the graduates to embrace the uncertainty of the future with confidence. 

“Today, all of you are graduating at an incredibly exciting time for our Commonwealth and our country. This moment is yours to seize, to sculpt, to make it your own. Because of your education here at UVA Wise, you’re well prepared to do that. And I know that, each in your own way and each using the unique gifts you’ve been given, you will make a masterpiece,” Youngkin said.

Throughout their time at UVA Wise, students have not only gained academic knowledge but have also forged lifelong connections with peers, professors and mentors. This sense of community was especially evident as graduates took a moment to reflect on their shared experiences.

“As I look around, I’m filled with pride, ambition and some nerves, just like I felt on my first day here—and as I am sure many of you feel that way now and did then. But I was completely unaware of how much this place would change me,” said Ines Latapia Izquierdo, Student Commencement Speaker for the class of 2025. “I came here from another country, chasing opportunities, education and a chance to grow — not only as a student or an athlete, but also as a person. And what I found was so much more.”

Student Government Association President William T. Rudeseal added, “The opportunities you found here like those internships that got established through faculty help, your published research, friendships that will last a lifetime, mentors who shaped your future, or networks that will open doors, began with a simple but powerful decision: you said ‘Yes.’ Yes to growth, yes to resilience, yes to learning from failure, and yes to believing in your future. That one decision has led you to this moment. By saying yes, you committed to achieving your dreams no matter the cost.”

The Class of 2025 leaves UVA Wise not just with degrees in hand, but with a deeper understanding of the importance of leadership, service and a commitment to making the world a better place. Whether their next steps lead them into the workforce, graduate school or entrepreneurial ventures, they will carry the lessons of UVA Wise with them.

In closing, Chancellor Henry reminded graduates that the world is ready for the contributions they will make: “You are the innovators, the changemakers and the leaders of tomorrow. The future is brighter because of you.”