Carthage celebrates graduating Class of 2025, nearly 670 strong

Carthage College gave a rousing sendoff to the 668 members of the Class of 2025 who participated in Commencement weekend May 23-24.

This year’s festivities merged familiar traditions with a new format for the ceremonial stage walk. Several thousand ticketed guests came to support their family members and friends in the graduating class.

Except for shifting from A. F. Siebert Chapel to the higher-capacity Field House in the N. E. Tarble Athletic and Recreation Center, the full group Commencement ceremony on Friday evening remained largely unchanged. It featured a heartfelt senior class address and the verbal conferral of degrees.

Juan Alberto Gomez-Solis ’25 delivered the senior class address at the Commencement ceremony May 23, 2025.Class speaker Juan Alberto Gomez-Solis ’25, who previously received the Distinguished Senior Award, combined personal anecdotes with words of wisdom in his bilingual remarks. Juan shared the advice his mother has continually given him: Don’t worry about fitting in — stand out.

“Lean into your roots,” he told fellow graduates. “Whether you’re a first-generation student, speak two languages, or carry a story that’s different from those around you, own it — that’s your power.”

President John Swallow blended inspiration from classic movie “The Princess Bride” with reflections on his own life and career.

“Yes, you should work hard to ensure the security of those whom you love,” he acknowledged while urging the promising new alumni to focus on accumulating “experiences over things.”

New this year, Carthage held separate divisional ceremonies Saturday morning and afternoon in the Field House. Highlights included the ever-popular walk across the stage, in which supporters cheer as each individual graduate’s name is called, along with remarks from academic deans and faculty speakers selected by the students:

• School of Business and Economics: Ron Cronovich, Professor of Economics
• Division of Natural and Social Sciences: Christine Blaine, Professor of Chemistry
• Division of Professional Studies: Tony Pustina, Associate Professor of Exercise and Sport Science
• Division of Arts and Humanities / Education Department: Julius Crump, Assistant Professor of Religion

Special guests for the weekend included the Rev. Angela !Khabeb ’05, an ELCA pastor who delivered an engaging sermon at the Baccalaureate service, and Mark Becker, who received an honorary Doctor of Laws from the College for visionary leadership in a wide-ranging higher education career.

Reflecting Carthage’s growing lineup of bachelor’s and master’s degree offerings, the Class of 2025 included the first cohorts to complete graduate programs in athletic training and product management.

See many more photos from the 2025 Commencement

Watch videos of Commencement