Commencement 2026
Please join us for NEC’s 79th Commencement on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
Congratulations, Class of 2025!
Commencement photos may be viewed and purchased here.
New England College Celebrates the Class of 2025
The College celebrated the graduation of over 1,300 students for the 2024–2025 academic year and hosted CNN anchor Dana Bash.
New England College (NEC) held its 78th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 2, on the Simon Lawn in Henniker and celebrated the achievements of the class of 2025, including the first graduates from NEC’s three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Throughout the 2024–2025 academic year, approximately 1,349 students graduated from NEC’s on-campus and online undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.
“We pride ourselves on meeting students where they are upon arrival at NEC and accompanying them on their academic journeys,” stated Dr. Wayne F. Lesperance, Jr., President of New England College. “These graduates leave our campus full of promise and just in time. Their communities, countries, and the world need new ideas, dedication, and commitment to the common good—values celebrated at NEC. Our graduates are the answer to the challenges we face; may they heed the call to make a difference in the world.”
Graduates, their families and friends, and NEC guests heard from CNN Anchor and Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash, who served as Commencement speaker. Ms. Bash received an honorary doctorate from NEC during the ceremony.
“There is a whole world out there for each of you that you can’t even fathom right now,” Ms. Bash told graduates. “Take advantage. Be excited about it. Push yourself out of that comfort zone. You will be better off, and as a consequence, so will the rest of us.”
CNN Anchor Dana Bash Delivers Commencement Address to New England College 2025 Graduating Class
CNN Anchor and Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash has been named the Commencement speaker for New England College’s 2025 graduation ceremony on May 3. In addition, the New England College Board of Trustees has authorized the awarding of the Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa to Bash in recognition of her achievements.
As CNN’s chief political correspondent since 2015, Bash plays an instrumental role in CNN’s coverage of American politics. In addition to her role as anchor of Inside Politics with Dana Bash and State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, she has launched two CNN series: Being…, which shows viewers the human beings behind the public faces of those affecting American politics and culture, and Badass Women of Washington, featuring women across the spectrum of life who have shattered the glass ceiling. In 2019, Bash won the National Press Foundation’s Sol Taishoff Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism.
“We could not be more excited to welcome Dana Bash to NEC,” stated Dr. Wayne F. Lesperance, Jr., President of New England College. “The importance of civic engagement is a thread we weave throughout the student experience at NEC, and I believe our graduating class will be inspired by Ms. Bash’s experiences, perspective, and role in American politics.”
Memorabilia
The Jostens online store offers plain or customized graduation announcements, class or deluxe rings, and collegiate tags.
Accommodations Near NEC
Looking or overnight accommodations near New England College?
Commencement 2024 Video and Photos
Watch the Video
Looking for Photos?
Visit the photo gallery link to view, purchase, and download images from the ceremony as well as individual photos of graduates receiving their diplomas. Congratulations to the New England College Class of 2024!