Saturday with clear sunny skies, signaling a bright future for the more than 930 Michigan Tech undergraduates who received their college degrees at the 2025 Undergraduate Spring Commencement. The ceremony took place at the Student Development Complex in the John ManInnes Student Ice Arena.

The event began with a welcome from Michigan Tech President Richard Koubek who congratulated not only the students, but the faculty who taught them and the friends and family who supported them. After his introduction to the event concluded, he invited Mary Stevens to the stage to deliver the student address.

Stevens is a Menominee native who said she came to Michigan Tech wanting to participate in as much of the college experience as possible. While at Tech, Stevens was involved with Delta Phi Epsilon and Order of Omega Honor Society. She served as a resident assistant and tutor at the Michigan Tech Writing Center. She is also the host of the podcast “No News is Bad News” and a published author.

Stevens came to Tech pursuing an English degree, which allowed her to grow close to those within a smaller department. She learned to become more open to others at college as well as learn to navigate the professional world in a time of change, which she acknowledged in her address. Stevens mentioned during the students’ time at Tech they were adjusting to the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, 500 million babies were born, a new president entered and left office, a solar eclipse occurred and more.

Stevens’ speech encompassed the ways she saw Michigan Tech’s community be supportive of one another, how Tech students and faculty brought about positive change and how change can also be unnerving.

“We are what tomorrow needs,” Stevens said. “It needs our hard work, passion, love and intelligence that all Michigan Tech students have. Change is scary and a lot of things around about to change for us post-graduation. My advice would be to embrace it.”

Stevens will begin work in journalism at the Daily Mining Gazette in May.

After Stevens’ address, the commencement address was delivered by 2015 Tech alumnus and 2022 Winter Olympian Deedra Irwin. Irwin’s college career was accompanied by athletics with her participating in three sports. She is also a member of the Vermont Army National Guard, and attributes much of her success to Michigan Tech.

The commencement address she gave had her review her college experience, as well as what she believed it took to succeed after college.

“Here’s the truth: your life is not always going to go as you plan it,” Irwin said. “You’ll have to pivot, you’ll fall, you’ll start over. But that doesn’t mean you’re lost. Sometimes the detour ends up being the path. We talk a lot about that real job, the logical next step. And sometimes that is exactly what you should take. But sometimes the hard road, the one that asks more of you, is the one that can change your life, and that road is often more rewarding.”

Following Irwin’s address was the Army and Air Force ROTC Commissioning, which saw four students take the oath to begin service in the U.S. Army and six students begin service in the U.S. Airforce. The students were sworn in by a Tech alumnus who graduated in 1968, Retired Capt. Robert Bentlage of the U.S. Navy.

Following the ceremony a reception was held for the graduates their families and guests.