Commencement
Congratulations, Class of 2025!
Albion College is excited to celebrate the many accomplishments of the Class of 2025 as part of spring Commencement Ceremony, held Saturday, May 3 at 1 p.m. on the campus quadrangle.
As we near the big day, please take note of the following key events for the Class of 2025:
Thursday, April 24
- 4 p.m.: Dawood Lavender Celebration (Kellogg Center Loft) — email campuslife@albion.edu to participate!
Friday, May 2
- 2 p.m.: Commencement Rehearsal (Campus Quadrangle / rain location: Goodrich Chapel)
- 3 p.m.: Champagne Toast and Senior Sendoff – for seniors, faculty, and staff (Science Atrium)
- 5 p.m.: La Cosecha Latinx Celebration (Upper Baldwin) — email campuslife@albion.edu to participate!
- 7 p.m.: Kente Black Celebration (Upper Baldwin) — email campuslife@albion.edu to participate!
- 8-10 p.m.: Graduation Kickoff Celebration: Tunes and Tastes (Tent across from Goodrich Chapel)
Saturday, May 3
- 10 a.m.: Interfaith Baccalaureate (Goodrich Chapel)
- 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Commencement Brunch for graduating seniors and families, and academic departments (Baldwin)
- 12 p.m.: Graduating seniors lineup for ceremony processional (Outside Goodrich Chapel) — cap and gown required!
- 1 p.m.: Commencement Ceremony (Campus Quadrangle)
Senator Debbie Stabenow to serve as 2025 Commencement speaker and receive honorary degree
We are proud to announce that Senator Debbie Stabenow will deliver the Commencement address for the Class of 2025. “Made in Michigan” through and through, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow has blazed trails and made history as the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Michigan. Respected for her bipartisan leadership and dedication to public service, she has transformed policy and improved lives across the nation.
2025 Senior Class Commencement Speakers
The following seniors, who exemplify academic and co-curricular excellence and are among the many leaders on campus, have been selected to provide remarks during the 2025 Commencement ceremony. From L to R, Kelvin Crone-Willis ’25, Ferguson, MO; Makeba Bantu, Webster, Massachusetts; and Kara Anderson ’25, Lansing, MI. Additional members of the Class of 2025 will be featured in videos and at other Commencement weekend events.
About the 2025 Senior Class Speakers
Kelvin Crone-Willis
Makeba Bantu
Kara Anderson
Kelvin Crone-Willis ’25 is an environmental studies major with minors in geographic information systems and environmental biology from Ferguson, Missouri. He has been deeply involved in campus life as a member of the Swim Team, a First-Year Experience Mentor, and a teaching assistant in the Earth and Environment Department. Kelvin has participated in two FURSCA summer research projects—one with Biology and one with English—and is also active in the Honors Program, Environmental Club, and Albion AmeriCorps. He works as an assistant at the Whitehouse Nature Center and is a member of the Center for Sustainability and the Environment.
Some of Kelvin’s most meaningful experiences came through his work with Albion’s Big Read, where he discovered the power of building community and cultivating joy through radical learning environments.
Kelvin shares: “I believe that community is the single most important element that makes Albion College unique. During my time here, I have been encouraged and nurtured by an amazing network of students, educators, and supporters both on and off campus. I am grateful for the opportunity to share and celebrate the elements of this web of support, which cultivates academic success, professional development, and personal growth for all Albion students.”
After graduation, Kelvin plans to return to Missouri to reconnect with family and community while pursuing a potential GIS/Remote Sensing internship with NASA’s DEVELOP program. He aims to build a career in environmental conservation, GIS, or environmental outreach.
His advice for future Albion students? “Constantly be curious. Walk through the world and even just across campus with wonder and curiosity because it will bring unforeseen opportunities and unimaginable joy.”
Makeba Bantu ’25 is a psychology and communication double major from Webster, Massachusetts / Nairobi, Kenya. She has been a dynamic leader and advocate on campus, serving as treasurer of the Black Student Union, secretary of Divine Dancers, and public relations officer for the African & Caribbean Student Union, which she helped found. She is a member of the Honors Program and the James L. Curtis Institute for Social Change, and has participated in numerous conferences, including the National Council for Black Studies and the Challenging Borders International Human Rights Conference. Makeba also works at the Whitehouse Nature Center, mentors first-year students, and contributes to the Io Triumphe as an intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications.
Makeba’s favorite Albion memories include international student orientation and performing with Divine Dancers.
She reflects: “The Albion community has been the foundation of my growth. The people I’ve met, the friends I’ve made, and even the challenges I have faced, have shaped me and shaped my understanding that success is a joint effort, not just an individual endeavor.”
In her speech, she plans to share how Albion has guided her journey of identity and belonging, and taught students that true impact comes from the small, intentional ways we build community where we go.
After graduation, Makeba plans to work in a psychology research lab focused on autism before pursuing a master’s degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA).
Her advice for future students? “College will sometimes feel rough and challenging, but in the midst of all of it, you’re building the person you’re gonna be. It’s kind of beautiful when you look back and realize how much you’ve grown.”
Kara Anderson ’25 is a political science and English double major from Lansing, Michigan, with a concentration in law, justice, and society, a Ford Institute concentration, and an experiential learning certificate in human rights advocacy. At Albion, Kara has served as president of Student Senate and Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, vice president of the Concert Choir, director of the Albion College Human Rights Lab, and a research scholar with Human Rights Educators USA. She served as a student delegate to the Athens Democracy Forum, was a member of the Honors Program and Ford Institute, and a Sleight Leadership Fellow.
Kara’s favorite Albion memories include simple, joyful moments—like relaxing with friends, watching TV, and sharing treats in their rooms.
Reflecting on her Albion journey, Kara shares: “At Albion I found a community where I belong and could grow into the person I am today, a place where I felt both comfortable and challenged. In my speech I plan to share my story, the importance of community, and my dream for a better world.”
After graduation, Kara will attend law school to continue her commitment to justice, advocacy, and creating positive change.
Her advice for incoming students? “Get involved. Go out and meet new people, join organizations, and participate in events. Doing so will make your experience more fun and help you develop skills to succeed after graduation.”
Professor of Philosophy Jeremy Kirby to give Faculty Farewell Address
Professor of Philosophy Jeremy Kirby will deliver the Faculty Farewell for the Class of 2025. As is tradition, the faculty member who welcomes the class during Matriculation Convocation has the honor of wishing them well as they head out into the world as graduates.
Professor Kirby joined Albion College in 2006. His teaching and research interests are primarily in the history of philosophy and also in metaphysics and philosophical logic. He enjoys reading Greek and Latin literature. He is a member of the American Philosophical Association (APA).
He has published articles on Aristotle and supervenience physicalism, contextuality and confusability and Socratic Virtues in journals such as the Southwest Philosophical Review and Florida Philosophical Review. He is the author of Aristotle’s Metaphysics: Form, Matter, and Identity (Continuum Press, 2008).
Professor Kirby has also presented his research findings at several national conferences such as the annual meetings of the American Philosophical Association, the Southwestern Philosophical Society, the annual meeting of the History of Science Society, and the annual meetings of the Florida Philosophical Association as well at international conferences such as the International Society for the History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology in Austria.
He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Utah and a Ph.D. from Florida State University.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ceremony
When is Commencement?
Commencement is on Saturday, May 3. Line up is at noon, and the processional begins at 12:45 p.m. All guests must be in their seats by 12:30 p.m. The ceremony begins at 1 p.m. and lasts approximately two hours.
Will there be a live webcast for family members who are unable to attend?
Yes. The ceremony will be live streamed at albion.edu/commencement so your friends and family who are unable to attend in person can watch the ceremony live.
Caps and Gowns
Caps and gowns must be warn by all participating graduates. Caps and gowns are available for purchase in the Albion College Bookstore. The Bookstore is unable to offer online purchasing.
Regalia Pricing – $80.98
- Cap and gown packages are (This package includes a black tassel)
- Cap
- Tassel (Purple and Gold)
- 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon-Thursday
- 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday
- 9-12 Graduation Day
Graduating Seniors
Do I need to register to graduate?
Yes, you must register for graduation with the Registrar’s Office.
Is there practice for Commencement?
Yes, mandatory Commencement rehearsal will take place at Goodrich Chapel on Friday, May 2 at 2 p.m. During this rehearsal, we will walk through everything you need to know for the next day, hand out honors cords, and conduct a brief survey about your time at Albion. Immediately following rehearsal, we invite you to join faculty, staff, and fellow graduates in the Science Complex Atrium for a celebratory champagne toast and sendoff.
Where do I get honor cords?
You will receive honor cords at Commencement Rehearsal. Only Albion academic honor cords will be passed out at graduation practice. Departmental or academic organization honor cords or pins will be handled by each dept. or org.
How long do I have to move my stuff out of my room?
You have until 8 p.m. the day of Commencement to move out of your room, though it is recommended that you have 90% of your belongings packed before the ceremony. It will make your life a lot easier.
Guests, Tickets and Seating
Where can my family park?
Your family can park wherever they can find a spot on Saturday. Campus Safety will not ticket during the ceremony. Remember, all city parking guidelines must be followed.
Is there a procedure in place for inclement weather?
In the case of inclement weather, Commencement will take place in the Dow Center. Lineup for graduating seniors will occur promptly at 12 p.m. We will communicate any change in location via email, and on the College’s website and social media accounts.
Do guests need tickets to attend the ceremony?
Seating is unlimited, if held outdoors on the Campus Quadrangle, and tickets are NOT required.
If the ceremony is held indoors due to inclement weather, tickets will not be required for family members and supporters.
Access and Accessibility
What is the best way for people with disabilities and those with physical limitations to access the Quadrangle for the commencement ceremony?
Individuals needing assistance should park in the lots on Cass and Oswego Streets immediately behind the library or in the lot behind Ferguson Hall. See the map for details. Albion staff will be providing rides on golf carts from these lots.
Is there an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter?
Yes. An American Sign Language interpreter will be in attendance and easily viewable for those attending in person and virtually.
Are there sufficient restrooms?
Yes, restrooms are available on all floors of Olin Hall, Kellogg Center, Ferguson Hall, and the Stockwell-Mudd Libraries. All restrooms are accessible.
Are chairs provided for seating in the Quad?
Yes, seating will be available for guests including those needing ADA accommodations. Please feel free to bring your own blanket or chairs to enjoy the ceremony from the lawn.
Senior Class Gift
The Senior Class Gift is a long-standing Albion College tradition that began in the late-1800s. The graduating class members choose a project that exemplifies their experiences as students and through which they want to impact the College.
Albion College Graduate Yard Signs
Yard Signs
“Proud of our Albion College Graduate” yard signs are available for purchase and pick-up on the day of Commencement outside of Mudd Library, while supplies last. Pre-order via the online order form or purchase on-site while supplies last. Proceeds benefit the 2025 Senior Class Gift: Career Closet.
Graduate Photos
Professional photography will be provided by Graduation Foto of graduates as they leave the stage with their diploma. Proofs will be sent out within 96 hours.
2024 Commencement Livestream Archive
Planning Your Visit
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