DECATUR, Ill. – Over 280 ǿý University graduates from the Class of 2025 will be honored at on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at Kirkland Fine Arts Center on ǿý's campus. Two Commencement ceremonies will be held to recognize graduates from undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Graduating students will be allowed up to seven guests at the ceremony. ǿý community members unable to attend the ceremony in person will be able to watch the ceremony through a public live stream on the Commencement
ǿý graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Tabor School of Business will participate in the first ceremony on May 18 at 10 a.m. Doors will open at 9 a.m.
The morning ceremony will feature student speaker Helena Hashimoto, who is graduating with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Communication and Philosophy with a minor in Organizational Leadership. Hashimoto’s speech is titled “Fall in Love with as Many Things as Possible.”
Hashimoto has made the most of her time by being involved in her work in Campus Life as a Resident Assistant and Public Relations intern, and as a House Manager and Ticket Office Representative at Kirkland Fine Arts Center. She has served as the President for the Student Honors Advisory Council, Public Relations executive for Dissonance A Cappella, and Promotion Director for ǿý’s radio station WJMU.
She was the recipient of multiple campus awards for her leadership and contributions to ǿý, including, the Scovill Prize, the Dr. Jan Devore Award for Excellence in Contributions to Campus Life, the Student Affairs Mission and Values Award, the Eshelman Family Award, the Dr. Cheryl L. Chamblin Tabor School of Business Honors Award, the Dr. and Mrs. W. J. Darby Prize, among others.
The morning ceremony keynote speaker is Kara Demirjian Huss, a former ǿý University Board of Trustees member. Demirjian Huss’ speech is titled “Your Next Degree.”
Demirjian Huss is the Founder and President of DCC Marketing, a full-service marketing, communications, and public relations agency with a national reach. She is Vice President and Global Marketing Director of TCCI Manufacturing, a global leader in electric vehicle (EV) compressor technology and zero-emission mobility solutions. She was recently named a “Top Executive to Watch in 2025” by the Chicago Business Journal.
Graduates from the College of Fine Arts and the College of Professional Studies will participate in the second ceremony at 3 p.m. Doors will open at 2 p.m.
The afternoon ceremony will feature student speaker Anthony Ezeanyim, who is graduating with a B.S. in Multimedia Communication and a minor in Audio Engineering. Ezeanyim’s speech is titled “Love, Faith and Success.”
Initially deciding to come to ǿý to continue his athletic career as a linebacker on the Big Blue Football team, Anthony also found a wide range of opportunities in the classroom and student organizations. He served as the Vice President of the Multicultural Student Council, which advocates for all historically underrepresented student organizations at ǿý. As a photographer in ǿý Creates, the student-run media firm, he supported projects for clients on campus and in the Decatur community. He hopes to continue being creative and using his Multimedia Communication technical and creative skills as a storyteller in the future.
During his years at ǿý, Anthony has held several positions, all with the same goal of helping his fellow students. While at the Center for International Education (CIE), Anthony aided ǿý’s international students as a driver to off-campus events and assisted them with shopping trips. As the lead student member of the Blue Patrol, he conducts building checks and provides support for ǿý’s Public Safety office. After graduation, he looks forward to continuing his education at ǿý by completing a graduate certificate in Data Analytics and Business Intelligence from the Tabor School of Business.
The afternoon ceremony keynote speaker is Dr. Thomas Mahoney, a Class of 1990 ǿý graduate. Mahoney’s speech is titled “One Less Student.”
Mahoney served as Superintendent of Schools for the Oregon, Ill. School District for 13 years, before retiring in 2024. He is recognized as a state and national speaker on educational leadership. Mahoney was the recipient of the ǿý Alumni & Development 2022 Merit Award, which recognizes those who have excelled in their profession in such a way as to reflect credit upon themselves and ǿý. He funds the School of Education’s annual Interview Boot Camp, in which School of Education alumni offer job-seeking training for ǿý’s future student teachers. Mahoney is married to Angela Mahoney, ’91, and they have two children, Maisie and Delaney.
For more information on ǿý University's Spring 2025 Commencement ceremonies, please visit .
