Widener Law Commonwealth Celebrates Class of 2025 with Historic Commencement Ceremony

On Sunday, May 18, the class of 2025 crossed a threshold not just in their careers but in a shared commitment to resilience, kindness, and justice — values underscored throughout Widener University Commonwealth Law School’s 34th commencement ceremony at the Forum Auditorium.

Grand marshal and Professor Mary Kate Kearney led faculty and graduates in a procession that symbolized their shared journey to commencement.

"Today marks the culmination of years of dedication, perseverance, and service. This is a day of great significance, not just for the class of 2025, but for all of us who have witnessed your growth," Dean andré douglas pond cummings said. "As you move forward, I urge you to continue seeking justice, embracing compassion, and building community wherever your journey takes you."

cummings also remembered two important figures in the Widener Law Commonwealth community: former student Toty Boley and Professor Juliet Moringiello, both of whom passed away during the academic year. Their loss was felt deeply, but their legacies continue to inspire the class.

"Toty and Juliet embodied the spirit of Widener Law Commonwealth — a commitment to excellence, community, and justice," cummings shared. "Their contributions will always be remembered."

The ceremony also featured remarks from incoming Alumni Advisory Board President Mark Kovalcin, a 2017 graduate and assistant counsel at the Pennsylvania health insurance exchange authority. He welcomed the class of 2025 into the alumni community, now over 3,900 members strong, and encouraged graduates to stay connected.

"The Widener network is a powerful resource," Kovalcin remarked. "I encourage you to remain engaged, stay curious, and support one another. Life after law school is a journey, and the connections you make here will continue to guide you."

Student Bar Association President Abbigale Agosti, a standout leader during her time at the school, also addressed her classmates.

"We’ve faced challenges, but together, we’ve become stronger. I’m proud of everything we’ve accomplished, and I look forward to seeing where the future takes us," Agosti said, before presenting the Toty Boley Memorial Scholarship to cummings, honoring a student who exemplifies Boley’s spirit.

Summa cum laude graduate and class valedictorian Nicholas Grimes shared touching tributes his classmates and mentors.

"We’ve learned that the law is not just about knowing the rules, but about using that knowledge to make a difference in the world," Grimes said. "Our education here at Widener has prepared us to face challenges head-on and to contribute meaningfully to our communities."

Judge Keli M. Neary, U.S. District judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and a proud 2006 alumna, delivered the keynote address. Neary reflected on her journey from her judicial clerkship to the federal bench and urged graduates to walk into their legal careers with grace, confidence, and compassion.

“The opposite of impostor syndrome isn’t arrogance. It’s acceptance,” Neary said. “It’s learning to believe you belong — not because you’re perfect, but because you’ve worked hard, because you’re committed, and because you’ve earned your place.”

She acknowledged even seasoned professionals feel moments of self-doubt.

“If you’re sitting here today wondering if you really deserve to be called a lawyer, remember — even Einstein had those days,” she told the graduates, encouraging them to trust in their preparation and purpose. “Every single time I put on my robe, I take a deep breath and remind myself: I belong here. I was meant to be here — and you are too.”

Neary also emphasized the role of kindness in the legal profession.

“Kindness belongs everywhere — but especially in the law,” she said. “Choosing kindness is not a weakness. It’s a strength. It takes strength to listen, to pause, to seek understanding over judgment.”

Quoting Mr. Rogers, Neary reminded the graduates: “There are three ways to ultimate success. The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. And the third way is to be kind.”

“As lawyers, you will be called to lead with integrity, to serve with compassion, and to face challenges with courage,” she added. “The world doesn’t need more perfect lawyers. It needs more honest ones. More humble ones. More kind ones.”

During the conferral of degrees, graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, officially marking their transition from students to legal professionals. The auditorium erupted with applause as Widener University Board of Trustees Chair Paul Beideman handed each student their degree.

In a personal moment, cummings then shared a memory of his own graduation and the meaning it held for his family.“ My mother knew better than anyone in that audience that day that my graduating from law school was a bit of a miracle,” he said. “As I walked across the stage, she was giving me an ovation by standing on top of her chair with tears streaming down her cheeks. She was celebrating her boy with unabashed joy. Just a short time later, she was tragically gone. That moment of joy was one of the last that we shared together.”

He concluded with a message of hope and purpose.

“Each of you graduates today—you have made your mothers proud. You made your fathers, your siblings, your partners, your grandparents and your children proud,” he said. “Take this joy into your future. Life is uncertain. All we can do is be fantastic, day by day, and make the world better because we are in it.”

 

 

 

 

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