Santa Clara University Celebrates 174th Commencement

The class of 2025 toss off their hats during commencement. Photo by Dylan Ryu

On Saturday morning, Santa Clara University celebrated its 174th commencement ceremony as proud graduates, families and faculty gathered to honor the class of 2025. The ceremony featured a powerful address from valedictorian Grace Davis ’25 and keynote remarks from tech executive Jayshree Ullal M.S. ’83.

University President Julie Sullivan praised the graduating class for their exceptional leadership during challenging times, highlighting how students have navigated some of the most difficult periods in recent history while making significant contributions to campus life.

“You lead with heart, and you often have led the way at Santa Clara University,” Sullivan said. “You’ve led with your voices, with your intellect, with your activism, with your strength and discipline and with your radical empathy.”

Sullivan noted several standout achievements of the class of 2025, including launching the University’s first-ever thrift store, “Bucky’s Closet,” to promote sustainability. Students also organized educational teach-ins addressing human rights violations and global conflicts, hosted the inaugural AI Summit and helped the University win its first West Coast Conference Commissioner’s Cup in 18 years.

The ceremony began with a land acknowledgment delivered by graduating senior Hydeia Wysinger ’25, who recognized the Ohlone and Muwekma Ohlone people’s connection to the region. Asia Chan ’25, also a graduating senior, offered the invocation.

Valedictorian Grace Davis, a political science and philosophy double major with a minor in gender & sexuality studies, delivered an address exploring the philosophical balance between pride and humility. Davis drew from Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas to frame her message.

“Aristotle said that pride was the most important virtue,” Davis said. “If you were a good person, you were confident in what you could do, and you made sure everybody knew about it. Then Aquinas comes along and he says, ‘No, you’re doing it all wrong. Humility is the way to go.’”

Davis argued that both virtues remain essential, particularly for graduates entering an uncertain world. Pride, she said, is especially important “when you live in a society that creates barriers to your success.”

“You deserve to take pride in every single accomplishment, including and especially graduating college in a context that has been shaped by unprecedented challenges,” Davis said. “More than that, your very existence is worth celebrating.”

But Davis warned against extremes, noting the dangers when “pride morphs into an ugly egoism and arrogance, and when our humility deteriorates into insecurity, we fail to take action.”

Her solution, Davis explained, is gratitude.

“My answer is gratitude—gratitude for ourselves, the unbelievable works of our mind, body and soul, and gratitude for everything that happens, including those who have gifts different from and beyond our own,” she said.

Davis, who also served as senator-at-large for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the University’s Associated Student Government and as the director of the Santa Clara Community Action Program, praised her classmates for sharing their authentic selves throughout their four years together.

“I am filled with endless gratitude that you’ve been willing to share your true selves with me over the past four years,” she said. “Most importantly, I’ve experienced firsthand the remarkable resilience of our campus community.”

She challenged her fellow graduates to use their privilege responsibly. “We are graduating from an elite institution on a gorgeous day surrounded by people who love us,” she said. “We are a very small part of the global community that can say that. Do not let this privilege serve as justification to distance yourself from others.”

Commencement speaker Jayshree Ullal, CEO of Arista Networks and a 1986 Santa Clara University alumna, shared personal stories and professional insights with the graduates before receiving an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree.

Ullal began by recounting her student days, including a memorable mishap on her way to a final exam.

“I ran into a fire hydrant—like you see in the movies, there’s a fountain of water shooting all over the street,” Ullal said, drawing laughter from the audience. “I reached the classroom at the end of my final exam, showed up soaked from head to toe for an exam at 7 a.m. at nine.”

The professor, she recalled, “was impressed by my excuse, which was not the typical ‘my dog ate my homework,’ and mercifully, he allowed me to take the exam.”

Ullal emphasized competence as a guiding principle for the graduates’ futures.

“When you talk about competence, it’s about pursuing your unique gift and making the maximum use of your special attributes,” Ullal said. “It’s about believing in your mission and doing something that you’re completely competent at—excellent at, not merely mediocre or average.”

The tech executive, who has led Arista Networks to become a multi-billion dollar enterprise, encouraged graduates to embrace experimentation throughout their careers.

“Remember that your journey is going to be a series of experiments, like it’s been for me, and you’re always learning, you’re always growing and forever contributing,” she said. 

Drawing from her experience in Silicon Valley, Ullal stressed the importance of surrounding oneself with strong teams.

“The power of you, plus a great team around you, is exponential,” she said. “They can help you, they can compliment you, they can cheer you. They can advise you.”

Ullal also offered perspective on setbacks, noting that “sometimes setbacks can create comebacks, and it can turn out to be a blessing in disguise.”

Several students received special recognition during the ceremony. The Nobili Medal was awarded to Clayton Baldwin ’25, who graduated with a major in finance and a minor in music. The Saint Clare Medal went to Wysinger, who earned degrees in psychology and public health with minors in religious studies and political science.

The Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J. Award, which recognizes students who exemplify Jesuit educational ideals, was presented to two graduates: Claire Alford ’25, who majored in public health with a minor in biology, and Sydney Shelby ’25, who majored in biology and public health with minors in African American studies and medical and health humanities.

Kendra Sharp, dean of the school of engineering, presented Ullal with her honorary doctorate, recognizing her “contribution to technology, efforts to advance innovation and entrepreneurship, and commitment to fashioning a more humane and just world.”

The ceremony also honored the memory of Charlie DePue IV, a member of the Class of 2025 who passed away in 2021 during their time at Santa Clara University.

Matthew Carnes, S.J., the vice president for mission and ministry, offered the closing benediction, praying that graduates would become “bridges and architects of new understanding and advocates and reconcilers, innovators and caregivers.”

As families gathered for post-ceremony receptions, Sullivan reminded graduates that they would always have a home at Santa Clara University.

“Congratulations to you, class of 2025, and to your families, and may God bless our newest alumni,” she concluded. “Go Broncos.”