May 28, 2025 — Under shifting skies and a cool breeze, Marist’s picturesque Campus Green came alive with excitement as more than 1,200 undergraduates received their degrees during the 79th Commencement ceremony on Saturday.

Not even the occasional rain shower could dampen the energy of the historic occasion, the first Commencement since Marist transitioned from college to university status in January. The milestone added to the sense of pride and celebration shared by graduates, their families, and the entire Marist community throughout Saturday’s ceremony and the preceding graduate ceremonies on Friday evening.

“You are the first ever graduating class of Marist University!" said President Kevin Weinman, addressing the graduates and their families.

Weinman, who started at Marist in fall 2021 alongside most of the graduating class, reflected on their shared journey.

"You will always be special to me because in many ways we've grown up together," he said. "You started college at the tail end of a global pandemic and are graduating college amidst a period of heightened global uncertainty across economic, political, technological, and social dimensions. Yet, you've never flinched. In fact, you stepped up."

President Weinman addresses graduates at the 79th Commencement ceremonies. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/Marist University.

Acclaimed NBC News national political correspondent Steve Kornacki delivered the keynote address and received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree.

Kornacki serves as a national correspondent for NBC news, having been propelled to national prominence through his “big board” election night analyses. He began his career as a reporter for PoliticsNJ.com before moving to Roll Call covering Congress and contributing to major publications including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, as well as authoring the book The Red and the Blue.

He emphasized the inevitability of change that the class of 2025 is set to experience, noting that he started as a reporter for a website in an era dominated by newspapers.

But, Kornacki said, "It turned out that this was the future."

“I’m excited for you because you’re walking into a world where finding what I found is more possible than ever,“ he said. "You can discover what you’re truly passionate about and find an outlet for it. If it doesn’t exist right now, don’t despair – it’s probably coming."

NBC News political correspondent Steve Kornacki addresses graduates at 79th Commencement ceremonies. Photo by Carlo de Jesus/Marist University.

Class of 2025 student speaker Evan Spillane, who earned his degree in cybersecurity, also recognized the historic nature of this year’s class.

“The Class of 2025 will forever be known as the torchbearers of Marist’s next chapter,” he said. Noting that even as Marist evolves, fundamental spirit of community within the school remains.

"Whether it was cheering on the Red Foxes at a basketball game, attending one of Marist's incredible music or theatre performances, volunteering at local organizations in Poughkeepsie, or simply supporting a friend through a tough time, we've seen how small acts of kindness can ripple outward and create lasting change," he said.

Student speaker Evan Spillane '25 addresses graduates at 79th Commencement ceremonies. Photo by Carlo de Jesus/Marist University.

President Weinman echoed this sentiment of community spirit, celebrating the graduates' accomplishments during their time at Marist and highlighting their resilience.

"You've shown you can be engaged with the world while still showing care and concern for each other, and for the Marist community as a whole," Weinman said. "You've shown that Marist is a balanced place with a deep sense of belonging, and one that is a true community of people from a wide range of backgrounds and identities."