At the traditional undergraduate graduation on May 10th, seniors felt mixed emotions and reflected on their time at Eastern. “I’ve been visualizing this for the longest time, and then it actually happening is fabulous. I’m nervous but I’m excited. I’m content that all the hard work and dedication worked,” said Denard Vanegas, a political science graduate, capturing much of the swirling emotions that day.
Many graduating seniors had trouble putting their finger on one specific moment or memory they will remember from their time at Eastern. Brielle Glinton, graduating with a degree in biology, summed it up well: “I feel like for the four years I’ve been here, it’s been one mesh of a moment.” Erika Velez, a health sciences graduate, echoed the sentiment. “I have had such a good time at Eastern; everything was a good moment.”
The bonds made at Eastern go deep for the class of 2025. Two best friends, Asish Daniel and Timothy Shodipe, recounted meeting each other during chemistry class as their favorite moment during their time at Eastern. Daniel says that because of the small, family-oriented community at Eastern, the friends you make during your time will stay with you for the long haul. “I will definitely know [Timothy] for the rest of my life; he’ll be my best friend.”
Two other friends, Jacob Wagner and Nick Di Pietro, will miss dorm life with one another and their other friends the most. “[I will miss] the lads. Those were some electric times, just balling up in the dorm,” said Wagner. Kevin Williams and Quincy Ritz are also best friends and roommates who reflected on their friendship during their four years. “Those nights of laughter are things you think back on for the rest of your life,” said Ricks. “I’ve been living with my best friends for four years now; I’ll definitely be missing that,” said Brady Palmer, a psychology graduate.
Some seniors highlighted recent moments while recounting their time at Eastern. “I really liked the Baccalaureate,” said Madison Moylan, graduating with a degree in nursing. “It was a really special moment.” A graduate in early childhood education, Ana Sider-Rose, pointed to the recent wellness retreat in Maryland organized by It’s On Us in April. “It was really fun, relaxing, [with plenty of] bonding. It was a really great way to end the year.” Meanwhile, seniors like Madeline Weeks, a biology graduate, reached to sophomore year to highlight the Templeton Honors College camping trip as a favorite moment. Williams loved every late-night breakfast, an Eastern tradition. “Last semester, when they didn’t have it, me and my whole class were distraught.”
What will the class of 2025 be missing as they move on to the next chapter? The community was the most frequent answer. “The people really make Eastern what Eastern is,” said Cassandra Kaeppel, graduating with degrees in psychology and dance. “I will miss…the incredible diversity of the community and interacting with people different from me, whether it’s in background or thought,” Kylie Pierce, a sociology graduate, said.
The kind of people Eastern attracts was highlighted by some as a strength. “There are some people who are equally driven and care about others as much as I do. In a world that has shown us to care all about ourselves, it’s so refreshing to meet others who care about others as much as they do about themselves. In order to create thriving communities, you need to not only think about yourself but also others alongside you,” said Vanegas. Abigail Kitchen, an English literature graduate, pointed out the same phenomenon. “I think Eastern attracts the kind of person who cares really deeply about other people. Most of the people I’ve met there care about bringing good to the world over money.”
Because of Eastern’s small size, the community is much more tight-knit than it may be at other schools. “I saw almost every student every day. So that feeling of having a family, kind of a community, that’s probably what I’ll miss the most,” said Daniel. “One of the benefits of going to a small school is that everybody knows everybody and everybody is kind of cool and chill…everybody’s just together,” said Teá Luckenbill, a criminal justice and political science graduate. “[I will miss] how welcoming everybody is,” said Rachel Rymarowicz, a psychology graduate.
For some students, Eastern had become home, and leaving it left mixed emotions of both relief and sadness. “It’s a lot to leave. It’s kind of like leaving your home for the second time,” said Matthew Brown, graduating with a degree in psychology. “Without [the community], I don’t know how long I would’ve lasted. The community made Eastern feel like a home, not just another college,” said Joshua Cruz, a criminal justice graduate.
The seniors also highlighted the importance of supportive professors and staff on their journey over the past four years. “All of the professors were able to support all the students and as we grew in our faith and as humans, we were able to see them walk alongside us,” said Brianna Sanders, a dance graduate. Alex Hall, a computer science graduate, highlighted consistent CCAS support from the staff there. “From the start, [CCAS] helped me understand how college works and then they helped me through any issues I had throughout all four years.”
Vanegas admired the worldview of professors at Eastern. “Sometimes when class was finished, we would have great conversations and continue our discussion. My ability to learn from them and see the way they look at the world and some of that rubbing off on me was a great experience.”
A frequent favorite at Eastern is the scenery of the campus and its nature. “For me, I love the nature aspect and the atmosphere. I just feel welcomed. It’s not overwhelming, I just feel peace,” said Julia Thompson, a graduate in early childhood education.
Seniors tended to highlight the value of getting involved. “I feel like in life, if you want to be involved you put yourself in the situation, and I did and I felt welcomed,” Thompson said. They recommended that underclassmen make the most of their time at Eastern by putting themselves into the community and forming relationships. “What you put in is what you get out. If you’re active, you’ll have a great time, and you’ll feel the family,” said Joshua Ball, a nursing major.
We will miss you, class of 2025!
Hannah Gerber 
Hannah Bonanducci