Valedictorian from Parkman among UMaine commencement speakers

ORONO — When Timothy Simons arrived at the University of Maine, he was homesick, uncertain about his future and struggling to find his place on campus.

Everything changed after he auditioned for a student theater production and met professor Sandra Hardy who encouraged him to pursue acting.

Twenty-five years later, Simons returned to Orono as the keynote speaker for UMaine’s 224th undergraduate commencement ceremonies, delivering a speech that mixed humor, self-reflection and encouragement while urging graduates to recognize that success does not follow a single timeline.

“I was an aimless student,” Simons, a 2001 UMaine graduate from Readfield, said. “When I came to UMaine, I had truly no idea what I should do with myself day-to-day, much less what I wanted to do with my life.”

Simons, known for his role as Jonah Ryan on HBO’s Emmy Award-winning television series “Veep” and more recently for his Critics Choice Awards-nominated role in Netflix’s “Nobody Wants This,” addressed 1,495 graduates during the May 9 ceremonies inside the newly renovated Harold Alfond Sports Arena.

“My timeline here was what we now call nontraditional,” Simons said. “But my time at this school is the reason that I’ve managed to do anything in my life.”

Throughout his remarks, Simons reflected on the professors, classmates and experiences that shaped him during his time at UMaine. He credited Hardy with teaching students how to persevere through failure and rejection while continuing to grow.

“She prepared us for the inevitable onslaught of rejection we would receive but at the same time taught us the skills to build ourselves up again,” Simons said.

Simons also encouraged graduates to take risks even when they feel uncertain about the future.

“Bravery isn’t not being afraid,” Simons said. “Bravery is being afraid and doing it anyway.”

The undergraduate ceremonies also celebrated the university’s recent growth and achievements, including the reaffirmation of UMaine’s Carnegie R1 research status, major campus construction projects and student-led initiatives.

UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy encouraged graduates to continue taking risks and remain open to opportunities after leaving campus.

“I want to assure you that it is OK to be uncertain about your future,” Ferrini-Mundy said. “Don’t let that uncertainty stop you from taking risks and reaching out in new directions.”

Ferrini-Mundy also highlighted several undergraduate students whose research has addressed issues impacting Maine and beyond, such as PFAS and food insecurity.

“The future can be more just, more equitable, more innovative, more safe and more compassionate with intention,” Ferrini-Mundy said. “It becomes better only when people like you — people who care, people who worked hard here at UMaine to learn and grow and have knowledge and capability, people who can see both problems and possibilities. When you choose to act, you are capable of making those changes.”

Valedictorian Ruth Griffith of Parkman encouraged graduates to reflect on the values that will guide them after college.

“So I think each of us here today needs to ask two additional questions,” Griffith said. “First: What are my core values? And second: How will I embody them?”

Griffith, who graduated with a degree in economics and minors in mathematics and international affairs, urged classmates to prioritize values over ambition.

“Because I truly believe that if we lead with our values rather than just our ambitions, we will find ourselves happier,” she said. “Our picture of success will shift. And the world, I know, will be a little better for it.”

Co-Salutatorian Isabelle Irani of Spring, Texas, told graduates uncertainty should be embraced rather than feared.

“What if not knowing what we’re doing isn’t a weakness?” Irani said. “What if it’s actually the reason we’re capable of more than we think?”

Co-Salutatorian Andrii Obertas of Lutsk, Ukraine, reflected on the perseverance shared by graduates and encouraged classmates to support one another moving forward.

“It is a simple reality of life that no single person can change the world alone,” Obertas said. “Only united can we make a difference. And only through empathy can we build a better future.”

Student Government President Keegan Tripp told his fellow graduates to stay bold enough to act.

“Speak when it would be easier to stay quiet,” he said. “Build when it would be easier to walk away. Show love and appreciation to the family and friends who got you here.”

The university also recognized Mohamad Musavi, senior associate dean and professor in the Maine College of Engineering and Computing, as the 2026 Distinguished Maine Professor.

“Success does not happen by accident. It requires passion, hard work and resilience,” Musavi said. “Success is not about talent alone. It is about persistence.”

The university also recognized Carol Dana, upon whom the University of Maine System Board of Trustees conferred an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters for decades of work preserving and revitalizing the Penobscot language and culture.

During the graduate commencement ceremony May 8, speakers focused on research, innovation and the impact this year’s over 900 graduates will have beyond the university.

Graduate School Dean Scott Delcourt told graduates their advanced degrees had prepared them for a rapidly changing workforce and encouraged them to remain open to new possibilities throughout their careers.

“When asked about the greatest skills that companies were looking for in their new hires, the overwhelming response was the ability to think critically,” Delcourt said.

Ferrini-Mundy praised graduate students for balancing academics with careers, caregiving and leadership responsibilities while advancing research and innovation.

“You stepped into entrepreneurship and innovation. You stepped into the unknown,” Ferrini-Mundy said. “And you just kept going!”

Graduate Student Government President Sudati Shrestha reflected on her journey from Nepal to the commencement stage while honoring her late father.

“The University of Maine gave me that opportunity, and today, as I stand here, I realize that this moment is more than just a personal achievement; it is the fulfillment of a dream,” Shrestha said.

Graduate commencement speakers Amber Boutiette and Patrick Breeding reflected on building their company Marin Skincare from lobster research connected to UMaine’s Lobster Institute into a nationally distributed skincare company rooted in Maine innovation and sustainability.

“You are on the cusp of a huge life change, the beginning of an entirely new story, and it’s time to think big,” Boutiette told graduates.

“You’ve proved to yourself that you are strong, intelligent, and capable of really doing anything that you put your mind to,” Boutiette said.

Breeding encouraged graduates to remain curious and open to unexpected opportunities as they enter the next phase of their careers.

“When you lead with curiosity, suddenly, you start to make your own luck,” Breeding said.