WORCESTER—The College of the Holy Cross marked its 179th Commencement on Friday morning, conferring 733 bachelor of arts degrees to members of the Class of 2025 during a ceremony at the DCU Center in downtown Worcester.
Dr. Linda LeMura, president of Le Moyne College and the first female layperson to lead a Jesuit higher education institution in the U.S., delivered the commencement address and received an honorary degree from the College.
In her speech, LeMura spoke to the enduring value of a Jesuit education, emphasizing the balance between imagination and action.
“Graduates, my wish for you—today, and every day—is that you will hold tight to your skills and to your dreams,” said LeMura, as quoted in the college’s announcement. “Treasure them both. Your dreams will inspire your work, and your work will inspire your dreams.”
Holy Cross President Vincent D. Rougeau also addressed the graduating class, urging students to carry forward the lessons and community spirit they cultivated on Mount St. James.
“Holy Cross taught you to encounter the world as it is and as you are,” Rougeau said. “Feel confident in the skills you sharpened here. As individuals, you are strong. As a class, you are a force.”
Class valedictorian Claire Wolf, a political science major from Cleveland, Ohio, reflected on the collective strength of the graduating class and the importance of uplifting others.
“I ask you today to consider how you will lift others as you climb…,” Wolf said. “It is through these deeds, through lifting others up, that we reveal the never-ending love of God and send forth empowering waves of justice, peace, and love from our own beloved hilltop.”
Wolf plans to pursue a Fulbright fellowship before continuing her career in policy work in Washington, D.C.
In addition to LeMura, Holy Cross also awarded an honorary degree to Sister Barbara Rogers, RSCJ, former head of the Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart and a longtime member of the College’s Board of Trustees.
Both LeMura and Rogers were recognized for their leadership and dedication to Jesuit and Catholic education, having served on the Holy Cross Board during pivotal years of institutional growth and mission advancement.
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