Under a sunny, clear sky, graduates, family, friends and faculty packed nearly every seat at Fenway Park May 11 to celebrate Northeastern’s undergraduate Class of 2025. 

More than 6,490 graduates covered the field, becoming the fourth group to graduate from Fenway Park and continuing what has now become a Northeastern tradition. The celebration, which was first held at Fenway in 2021, was moved outdoors from TD Garden after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Class of 2025 saw a 17% increase in applicants and was the largest first-year class in Northeastern history at the time.

The celebration began with a pre-show hosted by Sam Iannone, a rising third-year business administration major and the Mayor of Huntington Avenue, featuring the Kinematix Dance Troupe, Kaliente Dance Group, New England Bhangra Club and Northeastern University Dance Team. Following the arrival of the graduates and the faculty procession, Mia Martin, a business administration and design combined major and Class of 2025 graduate, sang the national anthem.

Several members of the Class of 2025 delivered speeches, including Daunte Pean, a mechanical engineering major, Jizelle Dorego, a business administration major, and Luke Brothers, a health science and business administration combined major. The three, who spoke together, discussed the significance of Northeastern’s Latin motto, “Lux, Veritas, Virtus,” which translates to “Light, Truth, Courage.”

Following their speech, Northeastern President Joseph E. Aoun welcomed the graduates and their families to Fenway Park. Aoun began by acknowledging Mother’s Day and thanking Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs David Madigan for his five-year tenure as provost — a role he’ll be stepping down from in June.

Aoun focused his speech on the future of AI.

“Artificial intelligence grows more powerful by the day. Some experts say that it will have a bigger effect than electricity,” Aoun said. “Other experts say that it will disrupt or eliminate the overwhelming majority of jobs that are waiting for you. It may do both, [but] your Northeastern education will help you navigate the AI revolution.”

After ending on the note that AI cannot replicate the creative potential Northeastern graduates hold, Aoun introduced the commencement speaker, Elliot Grainge, a 2016 alumnus. As the CEO of Atlantic Music Group, Grainge has become a prominent figure in the music industry and developed some of the world’s most popular artists, including Ed Sheeran, Lizzo and Cardi B. In a witty speech, he reflected on his own journey from Northeastern to CEO.

Prior to his speech, a short video was played of music industry stars Cardi B, Sheeran and ROSÉ, all three who are signed with Grainge, wishing Northeastern’s Class of 2025 good luck. This video, which now has over 286,000 views on Instagram, elicited a loud ovation from the audience. 

Grainge, who described himself as “a 31-year-old Brit who changed [his] major three times,” offered advice to graduates and gave anecdotes of his time at Northeastern. 

“I got stood up on a date at a sushi restaurant on Washington Street, where servers took pity on a hungry, embarrassed freshman, desperate for some female company and spicy tempura. I was 19. But I loved this city and I loved this school,” he said.

Grainge advised students to intentionally carve their own path while also allowing room for life to take unexpected turns. 

“I wish I could say everything happens for a reason, but what I’ve come to believe is this: Everything happens, and meaning isn’t something we find. It’s something we create, and how we respond, how we persevere, how we choose to move forward in writing our next chapter,” Grainge said. 

Grainge closed with a final wish of good luck and a promise that every Husky has a bright future ahead of them.  

“As you prepare to head into the world, you will hear no a thousand times. F–k ‘em. Keep going. Pivot. Double down and pivot again,” Grainge said. “You might not land your dream job tomorrow or next year, but I promise you this: You will find your path.”

The Class of 2025 began their college careers while the COVID-19 pandemic was still raging, meaning they endured social distancing and masking protocols on campus. Despite this, graduates, like computer science and design combined major Rhyme Dochtermann, still found their stride and a community at Northeastern.

“My favorite memory is fighting in the snow on Centennial Common … and joining every club I could and experiencing everything I could,” Dochtermann said before the ceremony.

To the incoming Class of 2029, this year’s graduates had an abundance of advice to share. Overwhelmingly, graduates suggested that incoming first-years take risks and try new things during their time at Northeastern. Physics major Alexandra Kolefas encouraged incoming first-years to take advantage of Northeastern’s plethora of opportunities and large community. 

“I think [first-years] should try as many things as possible and make as many friends as possible. It is a short four years,” Kolefas said before the ceremony.

Sadeem Jaro, an international affairs and international business combined major, said incoming Huskies should be fearless. 

“Don’t be afraid to try new things, lean into everything that might interest you and always be curious,” Jaro said. 

Finally, Chloe Cohen, a music industry and communication studies combined major, advised first-years to take risks.

“Don’t be afraid to look stupid. Try everything you possibly can,” she said.