University of Delaware sends off class of 2025
The University of Delaware class of 2025 is off into the real world.
The university community of administrators, faculty, staff, graduating students and their loved ones poured into Delaware Stadium in Newark on a crisp morning May 24 to celebrate this year's graduating class. Almost 6,500 graduates make up the class.
Of the total number, more than 4,800 are undergrads, and more than 1,600 are graduate students. About 42% of the class are Delawareans. UD President Dennis Assanis gave this class a unique distinction in his speech.
"Congratulations to the amazing class of 2025," he said to the crowd. "The best class to ever graduate from the University of Delaware."
It's his last commencement ceremony as the president of the university. He has served as president since 2016 and oversaw the expansion of the Science, Technology and Advanced Research Campus; introduced new research opportunities; and oversaw the elevation of the school's athletic program into Conference USA.
"Over the years, we've been so impressed and so inspired by the drive, the dedication to the amazing talents of UD students," he told students. "Thank you for the transformative and memorable time that we spent together."
ASSANIS LEAVING UD: University of Delaware president plans to step down after this semester
He thanked the university community and ended his remarks by taking a selfie from the stage with the students in the background.
He was awarded an honorary doctorate at the ceremony. Other people who received honorary distinctions were Wilmington Mayor John Carney, former MBNA executive John Cochran III, biologist and former UD Provost Robin Morgan, professor emerita of theatre and dance Lynette Young Overby, and ABC Action News anchor and guest speaker Matt O'Donnell.
UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE NEWS: Newark is a Gov. Matt Meyer signature away from being able to levy a per-student tax on UD
O'Donnell was tasked with this year's guest speaking gig, following Joe Flacco in 2024, former astronaut Mae Jemison in 2023 and then-leader of the free world Joe Biden. O'Donnell's speech related to students at his alma mater, UD, and challenged them to continue being authentic.
"You are doing these things because you are trying to experience what we took from you as parents when we gave you smartphones way too early and stopped allowing you to go out on your own; you are seeking authenticity," he said in his speech. "You might be the anxious generation, but personally, I define you as something different. You are the disruption generation."
GRADUATION PHOTOS: See Delaware State University's 2025 commencement ceremony
One graduate, Devin Jiang from Brandywine Hundred, is looking toward the nation's capital. At UD, he said he learned about politics and its inner workings and has worked in the White House and state Legislature during his Blue Hen tenure. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2024, the second Chinese-American to represent Delaware. He is now a staff assistant for Delaware's senior senator, Chris Coons.
"I just want to learn as much as I can about the federal government and represent Delaware on the national stage," he said in an interview.
Shane Brennan covers Wilmington and other Delaware issues. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback at slbrennan@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: UD President Assanis thanks school community at his final graduation
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