This year’s Commencement celebrated not just academic achievement, but resilience.
“This is a remarkable group, not only because they've successfully bested the impact of COVID on their lives and their studies, but because they have helped the Whittier College community do that as well,” said President Kristine E. Dillon ’73.
Each speaker underscored themes of perseverance and purpose. Graduate speakers Elsa Lozano M.A. ’25 and Olivia Campos Garcia M.A. ’25 highlighted the power of education.
“We are living in times of uncertainty and challenges, times when the world feels divided and the future seems unclear, but I am reminded that hope and resilience can light the way, and we as educators hold a unique power in our hands,” Lozano said. “We have the ability to inspire, to guide, and to plant seeds of hope and creativity in the minds of our students. Now, more than ever, our work matters.”
Garcia added that the graduates are capable of achieving anything they set their minds to.
“We are stepping into a world with the power to make a difference, not just for ourselves, but for the lives that we touch, whether you're teaching in a classroom, creating in studios, or innovating in fields we've yet to explore,” Garcia said. “Let's be bold. Let's bring our passion, our vision, and our belief in a better future to everything we do.”
Student speaker Analise Kusleika ’25 then shared how, though her journey wasn’t easy, she wouldn’t have it any other way. The volleyball captain and child development major delivered a heartfelt message to classmates, touching on the themes of adaptation and reaction.
“We are who we are, not because of what happened to us, but because of how we responded,” Kusleika said. “Not because of our experiences, but our reactions. … When I spoke at my father's funeral last year, I looked down to a sea of people and I saw purple Poets everywhere. Teammates, friends, mentors, and coaches all showed up because that's what Whittier does. We respond. This class, the class of 2025, we respond and we do so together. We grow, we learn, we overcome.”
Kusleika also acknowledged the impact of the College’s administration.
“You have prioritized the spirit of this place, and you have done so with your feet firmly planted on the grounds of this campus,” Kusleika said. “President Dillon, I cannot express how much your presence has bettered my college experience. Thank you.”
The ceremony featured recognition beyond the student body, too. Associate Professor of Environmental Science Christina Bauer received the prestigious Harry W. Nerhood Teaching Excellence Award while Assistant Professor of English Douglas Manuel received the ACE Award for Teaching Excellence for their service to education. The Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Whittier College’s highest honor, was bestowed upon keynote speaker J. Stanley Sanders ’63 to a standing ovation.
Drawing from his experience as a lawyer, Sanders spoke about how doors will now open for the 2025 graduates, saying, “It is by far one of the greatest American rites of passage that there is.”
He added that though the knowledge graduates gained at Whittier is important, even more valuable are the virtues they developed.
“In this environment, the ideals that you have cultivated, you take those with you, and they last for a lifetime,” Sanders said.
As each graduate’s name was called, families in the packed amphitheater waved handmade signs, shook noisemakers, and shed happy tears. Afterward, graduates mingled on the Upper Quad for a reception, embracing their peers and posing for photos.
Mel Gichane ’25, who majored in psychology and minored in anthropology and sociology, noted how quickly their time at Whittier flew by.
“It's been surreal,” Gichane said. “I didn't realize that it was going to be this fast. I’m proud that my family got to see my accomplishments.”
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