Graduates, family, friends, and community members gathered on the Beloit College campus on May 11 to celebrate the Class of 2025 during the college’s 175th Commencement. An exuberant crowd cheered the graduates as they walked across the stage to receive their diplomas from President Eric Boynton under clear skies and sunshine.
A great day to be a Beloit College graduate.
President Eric Boynton addressed the Class of 2025, noting that they had arrived four years earlier in a world still affected by a global pandemic, and their journey to this moment had been anything but ordinary.
Nonetheless, “You built something remarkable in these past four years,” he told them, “not just a degree, but a deeper understanding of who you are and what you’re capable of. You proved that uncertainty can be met with boldness. That a generation shaped by disruption can still create beauty, meaning, and change. That resilience and joy can coexist.”
He also gave a shout-out to two track and field conference champions as well as the baseball team, which won the Midwest Conference tournament for the third consecutive year and are advancing to the NCAA tournament.
Blue Skies for a bright light on campus.
Students erupted in cheers for Rafael (Rafa) Cervantes Jr. ’25 as he walked to the stage to receive the Warren Miller Blue Skies Award, an award given each year to the member of the class who most fosters good cheer and good humor and brings a light touch to our everyday lives on campus.
The Dallas, Texas native was a captain of the football team, a peer mentor, and a volunteer in the community. According to one nominator, he “never misses an opportunity to brighten someone’s day or let them know they matter.”
Rafael, who graduates with a major in business management and a minor in sports management, has been a role model and a leader on campus. Known for his warmth and a smile that brightened peoples’ days, he was celebrated for making a positive impact on campus and in the community.
An outstanding student and community member.
Jasmin Anna Bowers ’25 of Richmond, Texas was called to the stage to receive the Martha Peterson Prize, awarded to a senior who best exemplifies the college’s liberal arts traditions through academic achievements and contributions to the campus community.
A double major in business economics and international relations with a minor in Chinese, Jasmin balanced a rigorous academic workload as a McNair scholar, while excelling in extracurricular activities and competing with the lacrosse and volleyball teams.
“Jasmin’s dedication, leadership, and passion inspire those around her,” says one of her advisors. “We look forward to seeing the incredible things she will accomplish in the future.”
Jasmin plans to pursue a Master’s Degree in Public Health at Syracuse University.
Prepared for an uncertain world.
In his address, student commencement speaker Abhey Singh Guram ’25, of Punjab, India recalled the class’s arrival at college: ready to question traditions, push boundaries, and start a new chapter.
“And now as that chapter comes to a close,” he told his classmates, “we stand here today, transformed.”
Abhey, who graduated with a triple major in quantitative economics, political science, and environmental studies, explained, “Beloit didn’t just give us answers — it made us question better. It didn’t hand us certainty — it taught us how to navigate uncertainty with integrity. It didn’t ask us to wait for change — it showed us that we are the ones who must create it.”
He concluded by saying, “We may be stepping into a world that seems uncertain, but we are not stepping into it unprepared.”
Abhey, who is passionate about environmental issues, plans to pursue a Ph.D. in environmental economics.
The power of intention.
By the time commencement speaker Joe Davis ’10 marked his 10-year Beloit College reunion, he had ascended to the highest levels of professional sports broadcasting.
In his address to the graduating class, Davis traced his success back to Beloit and reflected on the influence of his professors, coaches, and family. He missed his own graduation ceremony, having graduated a semester early to begin his sportscasting career, and called it a special honor to return as commencement speaker. Today, with his parents in attendance, he received an honorary doctorate degree from the college.
His familiar golden voice boomed out across campus as he talked about the power of intention and the importance of determining what you want, who you are, and where you are going.
“All those answers are inside you, but the world is loud,” he said. He encouraged the graduates to “give yourself space to think. The faster life speeds up and the more that we push, the more important it becomes to slow down, and listen.”
He wrapped up by telling graduates to “dream big, dream crazy — you can achieve whatever you want!”
Afterwards.
The ceremony concluded with President Boynton’s closing remarks amid the pealing of the bells from Eaton Chapel. The graduates gathered on the college grounds with their families, professors, and friends to celebrate their accomplishment and enjoy an afternoon in the sun, their first as Beloit College alumni.
May 11, 2025
