Keep your passions close, and let them drive you to your next destination, Franklin Pierce University valedictorian Rachel Strout advised her fellow graduates during the university’s commencement ceremony Saturday.

“Please remember what you learned – and I don’t mean in the classroom. Most of us came to college to get our degrees to help us pursue our goals,” Strout, originally from Bath, said. “Along the way, we learned skills, such as time management, as we figured out which clubs and classes took priority. We also learned those things we were passionate about, regardless of their relevance to our majors. It is those passions I want to focus on. Please remind yourself of these passions, use them to propel you forward. Keep these passions close, and continue with them in whatever way you can.”

Strout majored in secondary education and English, with a minor in modeling mathematics and a certificate in women, gender and leadership. But she said some of her most-valuable experiences came outside of the classroom. At Franklin Pierce, she has worked as a community assistant and tutor at the Student Success Center, was president of SISTUHS, an active member of Pierce Activities Council and the secretary of the Education Club and vice president of the Class of 2025 in Student Government Association.

“I learned many of my passions here on the FPU Rindge Campus,” Strout said. “I learned new things about myself. I am a dancer. I am a leader. I am an advocate. Now, we can all add college graduate to that list. This is a part of us. We are college graduates.”

Despite rainy weather Saturday, the commencement carried on as scheduled on the campus field, with indoor livestreams available.

University President Peter Eden, in his first commencement since taking up the role, praised the graduates for their “resilience, perseverance, willingness to sacrifice, and simply work hard,” saying those traits would carry them far.

“The world is ever-changing, and increasingly challenging. Therefore, we need bright, adaptive and courageous young people like you to take charge and stand up for what you believe in. We need you to help others, to insist on fairness and honesty, to not stop at the water’s edge when you see that action is needed,” Eden said. “We are relying on you to make our society better. You possess all of the qualities and competencies needed to do just that.”

Along with 460 degrees to its 2025 graduates of associate, undergraduate and graduate programs, the university also conferred a posthumous honorary doctoral degree to a longtime supporter of the college and presented the Walter R. Peterson Citizen Leader Award.

This year, the honorary degree was awarded to Frederick W. Pierce IV. Pierce was a former chair of FPU’s board of trustees with a career in real estate development, consulting and finance, along with developing student housing.

The Peterson Award, given annually to those with a commitment to public service, was awarded this year to James T. McKim Jr., a consultant, facilitator and author. McKim is the chair of the Episcopal Church’s National Executive Council Committee on Anti-Racism and serves in leadership roles on the New Hampshire Public Broadcasting board, Global Citizens Circle Board and is past president of the Manchester Branch of the NAACP.

A recording of the ceremony is available at franklinpierce.edu/commencement.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.