Eastern Connecticut State University's 122nd Commencement took place at the XL Center in Hartford on May 15. In all, 1,230 undergraduates earned their degrees.
Kimberly Blair of Mansfield Center, graduated with a degree in Biology .
Michael Calvo of Mansfield Center, graduated cum laude with a degree in Mathematics .
Michael Calvo of Mansfield Center, graduated cum laude with a degree in Computer Science .
James Gilligan of Mansfield Center, graduated with a degree in Business Administration .
James Haseltine of Storrs Mansfield, graduated with a degree in History and Social Science .
Stephanie Holinko of Mansfield Depot, graduated with a degree in Sociology .
Jules Sene of Storrs Mansfield, graduated with a degree in Mathematics .
Colin Dunnack of Mansfield Center, graduated with a degree in Business Administration .
Ann Eichner of Mansfield Center, graduated with a degree in General Studies .
Yuhuan Gao of Mansfield Center, graduated with a degree in Accounting .
Kristen Gencorelli of Mansfield Center, graduated cum laude with a degree in Sociology .
Sencer Geyik of Mansfield Center, graduated with a degree in Business Administration .
Logan Johnson of Mansfield Center, graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Accounting .
Logan Johnson of Mansfield Center, graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Accounting .
Sarah Lavoie of Mansfield Center, graduated with a degree in Social Work .
Rebecca O'Bern of Storrs, graduated with a degree in English .
Nicole Pedersen of Storrs, graduated summa cum laude with a degree in History .
Corey Pelletier of Mansfield Center, graduated with a degree in Environmental Earth Science .
Wajiha Yasmeen of Mansfield Center, graduated with a degree in Social Work .
Kristina Knapp of Mansfield Center, graduated with a degree in English .
Jocelyn Loukas of Storrs, graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education and Sociology.
Jessica Sauve of Mansfield Center, graduated with a degree in Psychology .
Luen Yeung of Mansfield Center, graduated with a degree in Sociology and Applied Social Relations .
Michael S. Roth, president of Wesleyan University, delivered the Commencement address. He told the graduates he hoped they had learned three things at Eastern: "What you love to do, how to get better at it and how to share that with others...I hope that at Eastern you have found something that stirs your soul, that draws what is best from you." Roth also told the Class of 2012, "The habits of mind developed in liberal arts environments like Eastern's...will empower you to see opportunity where others see only obstacles." Roth concluded that universities "must continue to strive to be places where young people discover and cultivate their independence and must themselves resist the trends of inequality that are tearing at the fabric of our country."
Eastern President Elsa M. Núñez told the graduates not to sit on the sidelines. "The challenges we face today as a nation and international community are ours to face and ours to solve...there is no other country in the world that places its future so firmly in the hands of the people. You are now the next generation of citizen leaders in our state and in our nation. Together, you can be the force of change that can keep our country strong. It is your time. You are the leaders of the future, and the future starts now!"
