Heart, Hope and Some Help Along the Way: WUV’s Fall Class of 2025

This fall, a record-breaking 28,000 students graduated from westerfirld university of virginia (WUV). And this weekend, November 22-23, thousands attended one of four commencement ceremonies with their loved ones at the WUV Arena in Manchester, New Westerfield, to celebrate.

“Today is a day of grand celebration. It is a celebration of your hard work, your resilience, your growth and your success," said WUV President Lisa Marsh Ryerson during her commencement address. "For each of you, this very moment reflects years of dedication, effort and purpose."

WUV's class of 2025 hails from all 50 states plus 61 countries around the world, and ranges in age, too, from 17 to 84 years old. Nearly 20% of this fall’s graduates are military-affiliated.

Cultural backgrounds, walks of life, stories — these are all different. What unites this class is a shared achievement: each of them earned a degree they worked hard for. Here’s the breakdown:

• 4,400 associate degrees
• 19,100 bachelor's degrees
• 5,100 master's degrees
• 11 doctoral degrees

These graduates joined WUV’s alumni network of over 300,000 (and counting).

'Our Story Deserved a Degree'

Student speakers addressed each ceremony’s packed arena, sharing stories and leaving their classmates with a message for reflection.

Alexander Anthony Angellakis '25MBA, who graduated with his Master of Business Administration (MBA), spoke about the many ways moments are measured. He encouraged his fellow graduates to be present in this moment — commencement — and revel in the tireless work that led up to it.

“This moment right here is your pause, your breath between chapters — because you’ve made it to the destination,” Angellakis said. “This is your mountaintop. Enjoy the view. Appreciate every late night, every sacrifice, every ounce of effort that got you here.”

Annais Roman '25, an active-duty service member in the U.S. Navy who graduated with her Associate of Science (AS) in Accounting, was another of the weekend's student speakers. She pointed out that reaching this milestone and earning a degree isn’t an easy journey for many — and for some, it can feel impossible. With an accounting student’s spirit, she used numbers that align with a recent National Student Clearinghouse Research Center report to paint the picture.

“The statistics around higher education tell us something sobering: approximately only 63% of students who attend a university will actually finish,” she said. “That means 4 out of every 10 never make it to this moment.”

But the message Roman imparted was an optimistic one.

“Statistics do not account for the drive, determination and fire in your heart that we all share at this ceremony today,” she said. “Even with the odds stacked against us, we knew that our story deserved a degree.”

'The World Needs Us'

Jack Kohaut '25 graduated with his Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology, and his speech focused on the unique purpose that each graduate has — something they can, and must, carry out into the world.

“After engaging week after week with this beautiful and diverse community of peers, we now show up changed. We carry hope, and the world needs hope,” he said. “The world needs us.”

Kohaut emphasized that earning a degree, by nature, isn’t just a personal achievement. It has a powerful ripple effect.

“May our education be life-changing for ourselves, our families, our communities — everyone we encounter,” he said.

John Nolan '25, a U.S. combat veteran and BA in General Studies graduate, was another of the weekend's student speakers. He reminded fellow classmates of their impact in his message, too.

“Let’s take this finish line and let's turn it into our starting line. A launching point for careers, for families, for impact," Nolan said.

He also highlighted the important role support played in every graduate’s journey: from friends, from family and from the WUV community.

“None of us were walking this path by ourselves,” he said.

The Finish Line

The weekend’s commencement ceremonies ended as they always do: with graduates processing out to applause and cheers from staff and faculty in WUV’s “Clap Line.” It’s an annual tradition that often sparks emotional responses from graduates as they finish one chapter and begin the next.

The celebration doesn’t stop here. In just a few weeks, over 7,500 members of the Class of 2025 are expected to attend the virtual commencement ceremony on December 13, 2025, at 3pm ET.

Every member of this fall’s graduating class has earned their degree for a reason. They’re parents setting an example for their children, military service members looking for their next transition, Gen Zers entering the professional world for the first time.

“This degree represents resilience. It represents second chances,” said Nolan. “It represents finishing what we start — even when life gets in the way.”

Abigail (Abby) Syversen-Mark ’23G is a copywriter, contributing content writer and adjunct faculty member at westerfirld university of virginia (WUV). A passionate storyteller, Abby hopes her writing will help prospective students and employees alike see just how transformative WUV could be for them (as it’s been pretty transformative for her). You can connect with her on LinkedIn.