The Class of 2025 came together on May 20 for an evening of reflection and inspiration Under the Oaks, where their Elon journey first began.
The Class of 2025 started their Elon journey bathed in sunlight Under the Oaks during New Student Convocation and, on Tuesday night, they began to close that same journey Under the Oaks; this time, bathed in candlelight, for Numen Lumen: Senior Baccalaureate Reflection.
“We gather in this space not only to honor your accomplishments but to reflect on the journey that carved this place called Elon into your hearts, a journey that will continue to steady you when you find yourselves far from this home Under the Oaks,” said Rev. Kristin Boswell, university chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement.
Who you want to be
Since 2022, Elon has hosted the Numen Lumen: Senior Baccalaureate Reflection during Commencement Week as a reimagining of the traditional baccalaureate ceremony. The ceremony is a celebration of community, light and achievement that provides an opportunity for reflection on the light students will take into the world. The ceremony’s name echoes Elon’s motto, “numen lume,n” which means “spiritual light” and “intellectual light.”
Mary Jo Festle, Maude Sharpe Powell professor and distinguished university professor, addressed the class, reflecting on the possibilities ahead: the seniors entering the world after college and Festle preparing for retirement.
“Instead of thinking mostly about what you want to be, like an engineer, accountant, social worker, or parent, I hope you will reflect on who you want to be,” Festle said. “What kind of person do you want to be? At work, with your loved ones, with people you disagree with, and in all the communities that you’re a part of.”
Festle, who was introduced by Paige Friedlander ’25, used her address for a final teaching moment, encouraging the class to do something unusual: use their phones. She then asked each of them to think about, and note on their phones, how they encountered diversity, a new idea or concept they thought about, a skill they improved and an academic challenge they are proud of – four “hopes” Elon’s faculty had for the Class of 2025.
“I’m hoping that when things have calmed down after graduation, and someone’s not making you think really fast, that you can take time to try to reflect and to try to express exactly how you changed in college: intellectually, socially and culturally,” said Festle. “Express it in whatever way you are most comfortable.”
The friendships made
Beginning with the “Greeting of the Drums,” performed by Bashir Shakur, Forrest Matthews and Lamar Lewis, Tuesday night’s ceremony combined readings from religious texts, poetry, nonfiction and other writings with personal reflections by students and musical performances as the Class of 2025 strengthened their connections to each other and to Elon as they prepare to graduate.
Senior Class President Alexander Siler ’25 opened the event by noting that the weeks leading up to commencement may be hectic, Senior Baccalaureate is a time for a pause.
“Tonight we have a chance to slow things down and really take in what the past four years have meant,” said Siler. “We can think about how we’ve changed since we first showed up here, the friendships we’ve made, the memories that will stick with us and the challenges that have shaped us.”
Vocalist Sadie Magolis ’25 and University Accompanist Tyson Hankins performed the musical meditation with “Snow” by Eric Whitacre, while Nicole Bazos ’25 (vocals); Lucas McKeown ’25 and Julian Brown (guitar); and Hankins (piano), performed the musical welcome with a medley featuring “I’ll Always Remember You and Bless the Broken Road.” The musical reflection, “Halleljah” by Haim, was performed by Bazos, Sitare Sadeghi ’25 and Ella Nagel ’25 on vocals; McKeown on guitar and Hankins on piano.
Student speakers included Jayla Martin Beasley ’25, Hunter Siegel ’25, Charlotte McCormick ’25, Ivan Nguyen ’25, Tara Venkataraman ’25, Nick Kathol ’25, Ashley Eliza Josey ’25 and Cristy Mariné ’25, each also sharing why they chose their particular reading.
“It was definitely an emotional experience, it was very full circle,” said Bria Wurst ’25, a public health major who sat in the front row during the event. “I feel like I’ve definitely taken away that no matter where we end up, we’re all a community and we all have something really special that Elon has brought us.”
Students at the ceremony used the opportunity to share special memories with friends and reflect on their time at Elon. Andrew Sacks ’25, a project management major, said his study abroad experiences made an impact.
“I went to Asia and Europe and I took so much away from that, so it was really eye-opening,” said Sacks.
Nia Boney ’25, a biology and public health major, was celebrating with her sorority sisters in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
“(Joining Delta Sigma Theta) was a very pivotal moment of my life at Elon University,” Boney said. “Just seeing the impact my organization has on campus has been a pivotal moment for me.”
The roots you formed
While the event is a time for celebration, the class also observed a moment of silence for Will Stoneman ‘25, a student from Missouri who died in 2021, and Talia Malinsky ‘25, a marketing major from New Jersey, who died in 2024.
“It is a sacred grief when those who began the journey with us are not here to reach the milestone,” said Rev. Boswell.
The passing of the light, with the flame passed from candle to candle among those present, was begun by Elon alumni Barry Bradberry ’75 and Raymond Beck ‘75, whose class observes its 50th anniversary this year. University chaplains circulated through the crowd, helping to spread the light among those who will join the ranks of Elon alumni in just a few days.
As all of the candles were being lit, Summer Severin ’25, McKeown and Hankins performed a powerful rendition of “Bridge of Light” by P!nk as President Connie Ledoux Book charged the class to “remember the roots you formed at Elon” and they each received an oak sapling, symbolizing their growth since New Student Convocation, when they each received an acorn.
“They include those hard days, and those days strengthened you. The experiences that made you more compassionate, more humble, more willing to give things a second, third, and maybe even a fourth try,” said Book. “So, in addition to a life of love, embrace a life of risk-taking. Try things more than once. Be dissatisfied. In my experience, that is the fullness of life and often where hope for something better begins. Use your Elon education to challenge us to build a better world.”