WATERVILLE, MAINE, April 2025 — Thomas College announces it will host its 131st Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 1 p.m. Thomas College will also hold its Honors Convocation ceremony on Friday evening, May 16, 2025 at 4 p.m.
Thomas College President Jeannine Diddle Uzzi is pleased to announce the speakers, marshals, and honorary degree recipients for the 131st annual commencement ceremonies.
Representing the Undergraduate Division as Class Speaker will be Emilee Ireland. Ireland is from Howland, Maine and is graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. After graduation, Ireland plans to pursue her Master of Science in Education degree online from Thomas College while working as a full-time teacher.
Representing the Graduate Division as Graduate Class Speaker will be Molly Rae Sottak. Sottak is from Belmont, New Hampshire and is graduating with a Master of Science in Educational Leadership. After graduation, Sottak hopes to secure a job as a high school English teacher.
Assisting the graduating class this year as marshals will be Abby Farone from Sandown, New Hampshire, and Nick Weiss from Winslow, Maine.Farone is graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education. After graduation, Farone plans to spend her summer working at a preschool and then return back to Thomas College for her master’s in education degree and play her last collegiate year of softball.
Weiss is graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. After graduation, Weiss plans to return to Thomas College for his in-person M.B.A. and hopes to continue working in the transportation industry.
Thomas College President Emerita Laurie G. Lachance M.B.A. will be this year’s Honors Convocation speaker and be awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Lachance served as Thomas College’s fifth and first female president from July 2012 through October 2024, leading the college through a period of significant growth and innovation.
Betsy Biemann, M.P.A. will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree and will be this year’s Commencement speaker. Biemann is Chief Executive Officer at Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI), a community development financial institution headquartered in Brunswick, Maine.
Charles “Wick” Johnson III will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at this year’s Commencement ceremonies. Johnson is the retired President of Kennebec Technologies. He has served on Thomas College’s Board of Trustees since 2015.
For more information on these individuals and on the 131st commencement ceremonies, please visit our website at thomas.edu/commencement.
About Thomas College
Thomas College, located in beautiful Waterville, Maine, is defining what it means to be the College of the Future. With a strong commitment to innovation, career readiness, and community partnerships, Thomas College is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of Maine’s top colleges for social mobility. Our distinctive Guaranteed Job Program™, accelerated undergraduate degrees, and flexible graduate programs empower students to advance faster in business, entrepreneurship, education, technology, applied STEM, and arts & science fields. At Thomas, belonging isn’t a buzzword; it’s a promise. We create a supportive, welcoming environment where every student is seen, valued, and prepared to thrive in a rapidly changing world. For more information visit thomas.edu or contact MacKenzie Riley Young at [email protected] or 207-859-1313. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok.