Kean Celebrates 2025 Honors Graduates at Annual Convocation

Kean University celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2025 honors graduates during a special Honors Convocation ceremony that marked the beginning of commencement season at the state’s urban research university. 

Steve Fastook ’06H, chair of the Kean University Board of Trustees, welcomed the graduates and their guests. More than 1,200 students earned honors distinction from Kean’s six colleges.  

“This celebration is truly one of the highlights of the academic year,” Fastook said. “You have such a promising future – thank you for lifting Kean so much higher.” 

Beth Simone Noveck, Ph.D., chief artificial intelligence strategist for the State of New Jersey, spoke about the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI). She encouraged students to “unlock solutions to the hardest problems of our time.” 

“Your generation can and must do it right,” she said. “The question isn’t whether AI is going to transform society; the question is whether you will use AI to build a society you want to create.” 

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs David S. Birdsell, Ph.D., also addressed the crowd, congratulating students and thanking their families for their support. 

“What these honors students have done is the product of tremendous hard work over a sustained period of time,” Birdsell said. “To the students who are being honored I extend my sincerest congratulations, and also to family and friends for all the encouragement they’ve provided.”  

Kean recognizes three levels of honors: summa cum laude (GPA 3.85-4.0), magna cum laude (GPA 3.65-3.84) and cum laude (GPA 3.45-3.64).  

Kean Salutatorian Lashae Jones of Union, who is receiving her Bachelor of Arts in elementary education, was among the honorees. Jones, who worked as a teacher’s assistant at the Kean Child Care and Development Center, which her children also attended, gave the Salutatory Address. 

“Kean University wasn’t just our school; it became our home,” she told the audience. “Today is a celebration of who we have become – people who push through, care deeply and achieve. Fellow graduates, our story is just beginning.” 

Honors graduates beamed as they arrived at Harwood Arena with family and friends. 

“This is a great honor,” said Jason Gilman of Old Bridge, who is graduating summa cum laude with a degree in athletic training. Gilman helped lead the Kean Cougars baseball team to a conference championship and earned Pitcher of the Year for the New Jersey Athletic Conference. “To have success in the classroom, as well as on the field, I am very proud of that. It feels like it is wrapping up a lot of hard work.” 

The ceremony brought together families and students of diverse backgrounds. 

“I am excited and a little bit nervous. This is a first for everybody,” said Jaime Roque of Lakehurst, a business-supply chain major who studied at Kean Ocean. He attended with his father, sister, girlfriend and 7-month-old daughter, Violet. 

Monica Rodriguez, a psychology major continuing graduate school at Kean, said the day “feels good. It is a good sense of accomplishment.” The single mom said her three children were inside Harwood to cheer her on. 

Kristen and Bill Hopkins, of Belvidere, came with daughter Alyssa, an English/secondary education major. “We are very excited. She is first generation,” Kristen Hopkins said. “She definitely worked hard. I am so proud of her.” 

The Class of 2025 will celebrate its full commencement ceremony on Tuesday, May 13, at the Prudential Center in Newark.