Environmental Science Master’s Graduate Reflects on Community and Commencement

My name is Giavanna Cucarese ’25, ’26 M.S., and I am a proud environmental science master’s graduate here at the University of New Haven. At Commencement, we celebrate not only our academic achievements but also honor the perseverance, curiosity, and shared journey that carried us to this moment.

Before anything else, I would like to take a moment to thank the people who helped make this extraordinary day possible. To our families, friends, mentors, and loved ones, thank you for your unwavering support, patience, and belief in us, even during the moments when we doubted ourselves. And to my own family, thank you for being my constant source of strength, encouragement, and motivation. This accomplishment belongs to all of you just as much as it belongs to each of us!

During my time as a graduate student at the University of New Haven, I had the privilege of serving as a Residence Director, where I witnessed students arrive with uncertainty, excitement, and endless potential. While supporting them through moments of growth, I was reminded that education is not defined solely by coursework or credentials, but by the people and communities that shape us along the way. In many ways, watching these first-years take their first steps forward made me reflect on our own transition today, standing on the edge of what comes next.

That reflection took me back to something I learned in my classes. I want you to imagine a place filled with life, a landscape where land, water, all people, and movement coexist. At first glance, you might not see any commonalities, but once you think about it again, you may realize a deeper meaning behind this image. Every element plays a role, and every role matters. If just one piece is removed, the system begins to falter, and what once thrived in balance becomes vulnerable.

Now, that image stayed with me because it mirrors something essential about the University of New Haven. No major, discipline, or career path represented here today is more important than others. Engineers, scientists, health professionals, business leaders, educators, artists, and public servants all contribute something vital to the world. Progress does not happen in isolation, but through collaboration, respect, and a shared purpose. Together, we form a system that is stronger, more resilient, and more innovative than any one part alone!

As President Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D., has reminded us throughout this year, higher education carries great importance in a world shaped by constant change. I did not fully understand that until I lived it. Many of us have questioned what the future holds and whether we are ready for it. But I have come to realize that the most valuable things we take with us are not just the degrees we earned, but the curiosity that pushes us to keep learning and the community that reminds us we are never navigating the unknown alone.

The University of New Haven has been more than an institution; it has been a family. Through the long nights, challenging projects or theses, leadership experiences, and meaningful conversations, we supported one another and grew together. That shared foundation and found family does not end at Commencement. It travels with us, whether we are towns apart, states apart, or even countries apart.

I would like to leave you with a quote that reminds me to embrace what lies ahead. In the final scene of the Night at the Museum trilogy, President Teddy Roosevelt, portrayed by the magnificent Robin Williams, says, “It’s time for your next adventure.” The main character, played by Ben Stiller, says, “I have no idea what I am going to do tomorrow,” to which Robin Williams simply responds, “How exciting!”

As we step forward into futures we cannot fully predict, may we meet them with excitement, courage, and curiosity. To the Class of 2026, congratulations. Our next adventure begins now! Thank you.

Giavanna A. Cucarese ’25, ’26 M.S., who received her master’s degree in Environmental Science, was a finalist to serve as a student speaker at Commencement. The content above is based on the speech she delivered as part of the competitive process to select the student Commencement speakers.