CT State Community College (CT State) celebrated Commencement and the achievements of its graduates with a series of campus commencement ceremonies held across the state May 21–27.
More than 5,200 graduates from 165 Connecticut towns received 6,084 associate degrees and certificates during the celebrations.
The Connecticut State Community College Class of 2025 featured a diverse age range from 16 to 81 years old. Among those conferred degrees were 220 graduates with a military background and 2,528 who graduated through the free college program as Mary Ann Handley Award recipients.
Nursing and health care were among the top majors, with 1,744 graduates. Other top majors included business, general studies, liberal arts and sciences, and psychology. Close to 970 graduates received transfer degrees which offer guaranteed admission as juniors to the CT state universities and Charter Oak State College.
CT State President O. John Maduko, M.D., addressed graduates of several campuses during the four days of ceremonies, acknowledging the hard work, sacrifices, and perseverance that led graduates to commencement. “You’ve proven that learning is not just for classrooms or textbooks—it is a lifelong journey, one that reshapes your thinking, widens your heart, and expands your sense of what’s possible,” he said.
He urged graduates to use their knowledge and compassion to serve their communities and help the world. “Each one of you now holds tools, knowledge, compassion, and clarity that the world desperately needs,” he said. “We need you to heal what’s been broken, to speak truth where it’s been silenced, and to build where others have given up," he continued. “We need you to be the ones who extend your hand, open the door, and light the path.”
Keynote Speakers Included:
- Naima Craft, owner and head baker, The Craft LLC
- Magdalena Gómez, poet and author
- Shamare Gerry Holmes, Housatonic (’14) alumna, manager of community relations, WNBA’s Connecticut Sun
- Roberta Hoskie, Th.D., Gateway (’97) alumna, president and CEO, Outreach Property Management
- Lakisha Hyatt, D.P.A.(C), M.S.N., R.N., CEO of Connecticut Valley Hospital
- Erin Steward, mayor of New Britain and regent, Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education
- Kurt Barwis, FACHE, president and CEO, Bristol Health, Inc.
- Rhea Drozdenko, M.A.L., Northwestern (’15) alumna, river steward, Connecticut River Conservancy
- Pamela Carroll, Ed.M., professor of psychology, Three Rivers
Student Speakers Included:
- Natalie Ceglarz, business administration and liberal arts degrees (CT State Tunxis)
- Gary J. Houle, Jr., veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan (CT State Manchester), CEO's Student Award recipient
- Dimitri Lajeunesse, psychology studies (CT State Quinebaug Valley)
- Brooklyn Mendez (CT State Three Rivers)
- Beonca Myrie (CT State Capital)
- Rebecca Pesto, computer science development (CT State Norwalk)
- Kelsey Pringle (CT State Middlesex)
- Franck Valdez, respiratory care (CT State Norwalk)
- Juniper Zinck (CT State Northwestern)
“It’s easy to undervalue how far we’ve come until you look back at who you were when the journey began,” said CT State Tunxis 2025 graduate Natalie Ceglarz, who talked about the powerful stories each graduate carries with them. “But now, here we are at the end of this chapter,” she continued. “So, here’s what I wish for you: That your next chapter is as unpredictable as this one… loaded with unexpected plot twists, triumphs, and some awesome characters who make you laugh until you can’t breathe.” She encouraged them to remember that they are the authors of their own stories, and that their challenges or shortcomings don’t define them. “So write the story you want to tell.”
Honorary Degrees Awarded To:
- Joyce M. Keating, owner of Keating Real Estate – CT State Asnuntuck
- Barbara McClane, best-selling author, photographer, recovery support specialist, and board president, Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery – CT State Middlesex
- JoAnn Ryan, president and CEO, Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce and former vice-chair, Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education – CT State Northwestern
About CT State Community College
Following the merger of the 12 Connecticut community colleges in July 2023, CT State Community College stands as the largest college in Connecticut and the largest community college in New England with over 65,000 students enrolled yearly. As the most affordable college in CT, CT State is dedicated to making quality education accessible to all in a supportive and inclusive learning environment. CT State students benefit from a streamlined financial aid process and apply once to take classes at any campus.
The campuses—Asnuntuck (Enfield), Capital (Hartford), Gateway (New Haven and North Haven), Housatonic (Bridgeport), Manchester, Middlesex (Middletown and Meriden), Naugatuck Valley (Waterbury and Danbury), Northwestern (Winsted), Norwalk, Quinebaug Valley (Danielson and Willimantic), Three Rivers (Norwich), and Tunxis (Farmington and Bristol)—form a network that empowers students to tailor their education to their needs. CT State’s central office is located in New Britain.