Central honors December graduates at commencement ceremony

Central hosted its annual winter commencement ceremony on Dec. 14 at Welte Auditorium and via live-stream. 

The ceremony honored students who completed their graduation requirements by the close of the Fall 2024 semester or the Winter Intercession. Students who completed their requirements over the summer were also eligible to participate. Eight hundred seventy students were eligible to graduate this December. 

In her address to the graduates, Central President Zulma R. Toro noted, “The future belongs to those who are prepared not only with knowledge, but with the drive to apply that knowledge to make the world a better place. Wherever life takes you, remember that the education you received at Central Connecticut State University is more than just the beginning of a career—it's the beginning of a lifelong journey of discovery, growth, and impact.” 

Toro added, “We are incredibly proud of all that you have achieved. And we are excited to see all that you will accomplish as you take your place in the world.” 

Michelle Halloran Gilman '92, the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services, served as this year's commencement speaker. 

A second-generation Central graduate, Gilman offered the graduates some advice. 

“Keep doing what you did to get to this point,” she said. “In the classroom, your professors expected you to do your homework on time, to study and understand the concepts at hand, to be an active participant, and to communicate. Beyond the content of your coursework, these are the skills that employers will expect of you. 

“Your education here at Central prepared you just as well as anyone – so be proud of yourself and your incredible accomplishment. And do everything you can to serve and support your neighbor, colleagues and friends,” she added. 

Watch the ceremony online at the Central website or on YouTube.   

For one and three-quarters of a century, Central has served as the state’s oldest and largest publicly funded institution of higher education. In marking Central’s 175th anniversary, the university has celebrated its history, growth, achievements, and innovations while looking toward the future. This commencement ceremony served as the final event of the anniversary year. 

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