Graduation is the culmination of a student’s academic career at Northwestern State University. The Fall 2025 commencement ceremonies took place on Dec. 17 and 18, with 595 graduates walking the stage to receive 607 degrees. The ceremony also offered 290 summer 2025 graduates—earning 292 degrees—the chance to participate. Graduation honors the hard work and dedication that students have put into earning their degrees and represents a new journey into the workplace.
Dana Tatum, a business administration alumna, recalled her emotional recollections at graduation. “During the ceremony, I was reflecting on all my years at NSU. I thought about all the memories, friendships and lessons I learned along the way. Walking across the stage felt like a full-circle moment. All of the challenges and hard work were finally worth it,” Tatum said.
Tatum plans to work while continuing to receive her master’s, and she offered a word of advice for students. “Stay determined and push through,” Tatum said. “Time goes by fast—cherish every moment and take advantage of every opportunity.”
Graduation is made up of many different aspects beyond receiving a degree. Francene Lemoine, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, shared what she believes is a key part of the commencement: recognizing everyone who plays a part in a student’s success.
“I think that one of the most important things that we do—and one part that I do believe is quite special—is the acknowledgement of not just the students, but the acknowledgement of the families. [President Genovese] always acknowledges the families and the supporters of the graduates while we acknowledge them with our applause. He also always acknowledges all of the faculty who were there cheering along the students in the colleges. We work really hard to help those students reach their goals, so I think recognizing that is quite special,” Lemoine said.
“I think that the participation is just another indication of what a great job we are doing in making that ceremony very special to students, so that they actually see a value in attending and being there. It’s always nice to see so many of them make that commitment and time with their family,” Lemoine said.
Students graduating feel different emotions about the memories they’ve made and leave campus with different goals. Many are so caught up in the bustle of college life that they focus on the work and event of graduation, rather than what comes after. Graduation is more than just a final step in academics—it’s the first step in the rest of their lives.
Mitchell Mayfield graduated with a bachelor’s in biology and shared how life after college has affected him. “As of January 5, I am now a full-time employee of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. I am a leadership consultant, and my job is to bring Pi Kappa Phi to colleges that do not have active chapters. Currently, I am at Lehigh University, a private school in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. I am working to recruit the largest fraternity new member class seen on campus in years,” Mayfield said.
“The thing I would like future graduates to know: college does end, and the world after college does exist. I hope that students begin to invest time in their future and find things that fulfill them. Northwestern State has truly blessed me in the opportunities that I have earned, and I will forever be thankful to be an NSU demon,” Mayfield said.
Even though the fall 2025 graduates have left campus, the university continues to help pave their way. Their experiences have been shaped by their friends and family as well as the staff of NSU.
