Worcester State University officially ushered in a new academic year on September 1, hosting its 13th annual Academic Convocation ceremony in the DeFeudis Wellness Center to formally welcome the undergraduate Class of 2030. The event featured inspiring messages from administration, faculty, and student leadership, emphasizing community support, personal transformation, and the value of stepping outside one’s comfort zone.
Opening the ceremony, Vice President for Enrollment Management Dr. Ryan Forsythe welcomed the crowd and highlighted the remarkable geographic and personal diversity of the incoming cohort.
“Your class is a special one,” Dr. Forsythe said. “In this room, we have students from right here in Worcester. We have others from as far away as California. We even have some students joining our campus community from other countries, including Kenya, Italy, and Sweden.”
Whether coming fresh out of high school or transferring from another institution, Forsythe commended the new Lancers for the hard work that brought them to this milestone and told them that the day represented the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their lives.
Following an introduction from Dr. Russ Pottle, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Worcester State University President Barry Maloney addressed the incoming class. Maloney acknowledged both the students arriving with clear career goals and those entering with an exploratory mindset.
“We will support your journey, whether it is a sprint or a winding path,” Maloney said, noting that ninety percent of Worcester State students are employed or enrolled in graduate school within three months of graduating. He urged students to rely on faculty and staff while offering three core pieces of advice for their college career.
“If you show up, open up, and step up, I suspect that four years from now you will discover something wonderful,” Maloney told the crowd. “You didn’t just earn a degree; you became someone you didn’t yet know you could be.”
Student Government Association President Michael Juarez, a senior business administration major and first-generation student, shared his personal experience overcoming initial feelings of isolation as a commuter student who also faced the demands of an after-school job. Juarez recalled how joining a campus organization completely altered his college trajectory, turning a routine of napping in his car between classes into active involvement in campus leadership.
“My biggest piece of advice for everyone here is to put yourself out there and try to get involved in any way you can,” Juarez said. “Your next four years won’t be perfect but just know it gets a lot easier with the right group of people.”
Dr. Anne Armstrong, Assistant Professor of Human Geography, encouraged students to view higher education as a continuous process of discovery. Reflecting on how taking an elective geology course shifted her own academic focus from English literature to natural science, she reminded students to stay open to changing directions. Dr. Armstrong also spoke openly about navigating personal challenges, stressing the vital role of in-person human connections, campus counseling resources, and visiting faculty during office hours.
A central highlight of the ceremony was the conferral of an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree upon alumnus Jerome Hewlett ’87. A global business leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Hewlett was recognized for his professional achievements, mentorship, and financial support for future generations through his namesake scholarship at the university. In a candid address, Hewlett spoke about building resilience through historical market downturns, gaining practical skills through student activities, and giving back to his alma mater.
“The future is not defined by other people. The future is defined by yourself,” Hewlett told the students. “If something scares you, that should tell you that you should do that.”
The messages shared on stage resonated strongly with attending students as they reflected on their decision to come to Worcester State. First-year student Lucas Montvitt of Grafton noted that the call to action inspired his personal goals for the year.
“The speakers really stressed how important it is to get involved,” Montvitt said, adding that he chose the university for its welcoming community and proximity to home. “What I’m most looking forward to is making new connections and networking with people.”
Fellow first-year student Enzo De Aquino, also from Grafton, found the ceremony’s encouraging tone reassuring during a major life transition.
“Everything the speakers said just made me feel so much more comfortable about coming in, because I had been really stressed about it,” De Aquino said, pointing to the university’s affordability and attractive campus as key deciding factors. “Hearing them say that everything will be fine, to just take our time, was really great.”
For transfer student Lilly Roberts of Spencer, who previously attended Salem State University, the advice hit especially close to home.
“The emphasis on joining clubs is so important,” Roberts said, reflecting on her past experience living on campus without participating in student groups. “I felt really lonely at my former school because I didn’t join anything, but I am definitely planning to get involved here this year.”
The ceremony concluded with remarks on academic tradition, regalia, and the importance of intellectual curiosity from Dean Pottle. He urged the new students to continuously ask meaningful questions as they navigate their degree programs.
“Be curious,” he urged the class. “There is a reason the word university contains the word universe. There is a lot here and there is a lot in you. We pledge to support you in all of that, and in finding and shaping the new person you will become.”
Photos by Mary Leufstedt