At today’s commencement, Centenary University President Dale Caldwell, Ed.D., encouraged the Class of 2025 to value their place in the history of Centenary University: “You are joining generations of Centenary alumni—educators, entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, equestrians, and civic leaders—who have made their mark on the world. Your presence here today, in this moment, is the continuation of that powerful legacy. Let’s take a moment to celebrate not just your achievement, but the enduring legacy of Centenary University, which for more than 150 years has empowered students to think deeply, live honorably, and lead boldly.”

New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick J. Callahan delivered the commencement address today and was recognized by Centenary University with a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa. A member of the governor’s cabinet, Col. Callahan is the 14^th colonel of the state’s leading law enforcement agency and was appointed to his current post in 2017. Col. Callahan served as the New Jersey State Police recovery bureau chief in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, working with state and federal partners to develop and implement long-term recovery effort strategies, and chaired the Command and Control Subcommittee of the Emergency Management Section when New Jersey hosted Super Bowl XLVIII. 

In his address, Col. Callahan echoed Dr. Caldwell’s sentiments about the importance of leaving a legacy that may not be fully realized for many years. “I ask that you find yourself by losing yourself in the service of others,” Col. Callahan told the graduates. Gesturing to a nearby tree, he continued, “One day, somebody planted that tree a long, long time ago, and they are not here now. So, have that long-term perspective, knowing that the acorn you plant today, and that gets watered and sun from above, will someday grow into a huge tree and cast shade…and centuries from now, that small acorn that you took the time to put just a few inches in the ground will cast shade upon those that you will have the honor of looking down upon from those heavens above and saying, ‘I started that.’” 

Sophia Wayner of Califon, NJ, who was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Animal Health, summa cum laude, is valedictorian of the Class of 2025, graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade point average (GPA). A competitive equestrian in the sport of dressage, she recently gained acceptance to the inaugural class at the Schreiber School of Veterinary Medicine at Rowan University. Diagnosed with autism at age 20, Wayner noted that she has always been more drawn to gentleness than to the intensity that pervades today’s fast-paced, and sometimes unkind, world: “(At the Centenary University Equestrian Center) I was shown that compassion and quiet strength can be just as powerful as force. There, I discovered that I could build a career upon kindness. And there, I learned that I didn’t have to push harder, grow louder, or become uber competitive in order to succeed…So, I do not stand up here today to send you off to be the strongest, the smartest, or the best at anything. All I want to do is remind you that as you leave here and find your place in this grown up world, continue to be your amazing self—and please be kind!”

To mark the University’s sesquicentennial commencement, the procession was led by Sadie, a horse used in the TRAC (Therapeutic Riding At Centenary) program. Throughout its history, Centenary has earned a reputation as one of the leading academic and competitive equestrian programs in the nation. Last weekend, the Centenary IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association, Inc.) team placed third at nationals behind Purdue University and Sacred Heart University—both DI schools with significant resources—and bested powerhouses Stanford University and the University of Southern California (USC).