Comets Mark Full-Circle Moments at Commencement Ceremonies

The journeys of the newest University of Texas at Dallas graduates — as well as one of their fellow alums and UTD’s president — came full circle at the University Roundabout during a ceremony filled with Comet pageantry and pride on May 16.

Dr. Richard C. Benson, presiding over his last commencement as UT Dallas’ leader, encouraged graduates to continue to be curious as they pursue their next endeavors during his address at University Commencement.

“As you and I end our time here together, I want to present the same question that I first asked eight years ago at graduation: What can you do with what you know? Your answer to that question can give shape and help define not only your future, but also that of our society,” he said.

“All of us on stage have sought to answer this question to some extent. I want to point out that it is a lifelong quest,” added Benson, the Eugene McDermott Distinguished University Chair of Leadership.

Keynote speaker and 2024 Miss Texas Annette Addo-Yobo BS’20 told graduates how their UTD experience can prepare them for life’s challenges.

“Think of college as a toolbox, and every experience you went through as a tool. Some are shiny, some are rusty, but all of them are useful. The elective or class you almost failed might teach you how to keep going when nothing makes sense,” she said.

“You already know how to adapt, survive, create community and build resilience in real-time. That’s not just impressive. That’s a superpower. You’ve been equipped with more than a degree. You’ve built stamina, perspective, empathy — the kind of stuff they don’t grade — but life absolutely will,” Addo-Yobo said.

In addition to this spring’s graduates, Comets who earned their degrees in summer and fall of 2024 joined the fourth annual campuswide celebration, which included a cosmic light show and an after-party. Earlier in the day, the University awarded doctorates to a record 125 participants during the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony. Individual school ceremonies for the Class of 2025 were held May 19-21.

“Thank you for choosing UTD for your education, and thank you for all you have given back to the home of the Comets,” Benson said. “UTD will aways be a part of all of us, just as we will always be a part of UTD.”