The Class of 2025: Defined by Persistence, Driven by Possibility

As the sun dipped below the horizon and hundreds of glowing drones lit up the sky, forming the shapes of beloved campus icons like Geisel Library, Sun God and King Triton, cheers erupted from the crowd. Phones pointed skyward. Laughter, music and pride filled the night.

For UC San Diego’s Class of 2025, the surprise light show that capped off All Campus Commencement on June 14 was a spectacular sendoff to a milestone occasion—one that celebrated how far they’ve come and the possibilities that lie ahead.

In his opening remarks, Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla reflected on the transformation taking place across UC San Diego—from cranes and construction to new spaces designed for learning, research and connection. He emphasized that, even as the campus evolves, the university’s core values remain steadfast: a commitment to knowledge, inclusion, academic freedom and the dignity of every individual. With those values in mind, he reminded graduates that their own personal growth was just beginning.

“As you step forward into who you are becoming, remember this: you have finished your degree, but you are far from finished,” said Khosla. “You are dynamic and ever-changing. You are capable of transforming—and you will shape the world around you."

Six-time IRONMAN world champion and UC San Diego alumnus Mark Allen shared an engaging keynote address, urging the Class of 2025 to embrace challenges, trust in their potential and pursue what truly calls them. For Allen, what began as curiosity about a race that seemed impossible became a pursuit that changed the course of his life—proof, he said, that the things that call to us are often worth chasing.

Allen spoke about the power of persistence, drawing from personal stories of setbacks and victories as a triathlete, and reminded graduates that growth often comes when you keep going, especially when things get hard. “When you live focused on possibility,” he said, “it will fundamentally change who you are."

"The IRONMAN was calling me. And I made it my pursuit to see if I could be a finisher. It seemed impossible, but I was intrigued by it. When you feel those things intriguing you, calling you: pay attention."

-Mark Allen

In a heartfelt video compilation, the ceremony’s six student speakers addressed their fellow Tritons with stories of personal growth, community connections and lessons learned throughout their time on campus. While Amoha Bhale, Luna McMahon, Priscilla Nguyen, Beatriz Pereira dos Guimarães Peixoto, Jennifer Shin and Farsamin Warisha shared a range of experiences, they also demonstrated common threads that tie the Class of 2025 together: the courage to ask questions, a willingness to lean into discomfort and a resolve to show up for others.

“Graduation is not the end of the road—it’s the start of an entirely new journey. UC San Diego hasn’t just equipped us with knowledge. It’s ignited our momentum to tackle what’s next.”

-Priscilla Nguyen

With speeches delivered, tassels turned and drones landed, UC San Diego’s newest alumni joined loved ones under the field lights in warm embraces and electric celebrations. Their degrees marked not just personal milestones, but entry into what Jai’lyn Richardson, president of the Graduate & Professional Student Association, called a vast constellation of Triton alumni—more than 256,000 strong—connected by a shared UC San Diego journey.

For many of the graduates, it was clear that the degree earned was not for them alone. Angel Carreon, who received a bachelor’s degree in global health, was surrounded by loved ones. “It’s a great accomplishment. Being the first person in my family to have a college degree—it makes all of the sacrifices my parents made worth it,” Carreon said. Next, the graduate will return to Los Angeles to give back to the community and pursue clinic work in HIV or LGBTQ+ care.

Amoha Bhale laughed along with her parents as she explained how she had surprised them with being selected as a student speaker: by handing them a program and escorting them to reserved seats. 

For her parents, who immigrated to the United States from India, this milestone marked a special moment. Bhale is the first in her family to earn a degree from an American university.

“This is like a dream come true,” said her mother, Anisha Bhale. “I am really proud of her, and I wish her lots of blessings for her future. It’s really a big day for us.”