"Carry the lessons you've learned here at Nazareth with you always. They are very invaluable, trust me. Carry them with integrity, compassion, and a commitment to improving the world. Here's to the next chapter of your life. Here's to courage and love, the world over. Here's to embracing opportunities. Here's to believing in yourself."
— Manuel Rivera-Ortiz '95, Commencement address
May 17 - Graduate
"Life is unpredictable and success often lies in our ability to adapt, evolve, and embrace it with courage and resilience. So, my fellow graduates, embrace the challenges ahead of us. Don't be afraid of the unknown, and take every opportunity that comes your way. Now it's our turn to go out and leave our mark on the world." — Marina Cornejo Monzón '24G, student speaker
May 18 - Undergraduate (10 a.m.)
"Nazareth's story is one of responding to the needs of the time and creating success against all odds. This was true of Nazareth's founders 100 years ago, and it was true of our class just four years ago. ... (Starting college in the pandemic), we embodied the very characteristics at the heart of a Nazareth education. We were changemakers before we even knew what the term was. ... (change) has been woven into the very fabric of our college narrative. Despite the (pandemic) distancing, we still found ourselves building community. This is why the class of 2024 is flexible, adaptable, innovative, creative, historic." — Katherine Markello '24, student speaker
May 18 - Undergraduate (2 p.m.)
"Now when people ask the question, 'Why Naz?' the answer is simple: The people." In the last 4 years, we have surrounded ourselves with friends, families, partners, peers, staff members, and professors — like Nicolette (Hart) — who have given us the priceless gift of knowledge and support. ... Use your knowledge as power and never underestimate the impact you can have on someone else's life, even if it's just asking, 'How are you?' It's our turn to return the favor of building community, fostering belonging, and spreading love. After all, that's what the world needs now." — Andrew Wicklum '24, student speaker
Program
The Commencement program (pdf) lists the graduating students and the ceremony details.
What's Next
Some of the graduates shared what's next, gratitude, and lessons they are taking from their Nazareth experiences: