Worcester State University celebrated a milestone Saturday, May 16, as 943 graduates received their degrees during the university’s 150th commencement ceremony at the DCU Center.
The commencement served as both a sendoff for the Class of 2026 and the culmination of Worcester State’s yearlong sesquicentennial celebration. More than 9,000 family members, friends and supporters filled the arena as graduates marked the occasion with special 150th-anniversary pins and a program that paid tribute to the institution’s earliest alumni.
The ceremony featured messages centered on persistence, reflection and individuality — themes that resonated with a graduating class whose college years were shaped in part by the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Worcester State President Barry Maloney acknowledged those challenges in remarks released by the university, telling graduates they had balanced school, work and family obligations while navigating an uncertain period in higher education.
“Still, you chose to persist,” Maloney said in a statement.
“You know how to adapt. You know how to show up tired and still do your best work. You know how to care about people while carrying responsibility,” he continued. “That is leadership. That is character. That is service.”
The keynote address was delivered by bestselling author and neurodiversity advocate John Elder Robison, who encouraged graduates to recognize the strengths found in their differences rather than conceal them.
Diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at age 40, Robison shared how his fascination with sound engineering led him to a career working with major rock acts including Kiss, Iron Maiden and Peter Frampton. According to the university, he recalled working shows in Worcester decades ago and never imagining he would one day return to the city to deliver a commencement address.
“Each of us has our differences and strengths,” Robison said in the university’s announcement. “Those are not things to hide or be ashamed of. They are what make us special, and they are what can take you to the top.”
“Being different took me to the top of the music world in the 1970s, and gave me the confidence and skills to do everything since,” he said. “Being like everyone else would mean throwing away the one thing in my life that made me successful.”
Student speaker Abby Saner, a speech-language and hearing sciences major from Gardner, reflected on the places and experiences that shaped her classmates’ time at Worcester State. A former resident assistant and member of the university’s dance team, Saner invited graduates to think about the classrooms, study spaces and gathering places where friendships were formed and challenges overcome.
“If you stop and take a look back at our time at Worcester State, you’ll see more than just buildings,” Saner said in the university’s announcement. “You’ll see moments of connection, growth and resilience. We didn’t just earn our degrees at Worcester State. We learned how to move forward, even when we weren’t sure of what the next step would be.”
“As we leave our campus, let’s take these lessons with us,” she said. “Wherever our lives take us next, we should continue to stop, and take a look around, and trust that we are ready for whatever comes next, even if what comes next is a little uncertain. Because if college taught us anything, it’s that we’ll figure it out as we go.”
The university also awarded honorary doctorates to Robison and Worcester attorney and civic leader Michael P. Angelini. Angelini has served in leadership roles with numerous local organizations, including the Worcester Economic Club, Greater Worcester Community Foundation and Salvation Army Advisory Board.
The ceremony concluded with a video celebrating graduates, alumni and faculty members who have helped shape Worcester State over the past 150 years, bringing the university’s sesquicentennial observance to a close.
