Commencement Speech from NAU President Cruz Rivera

A Lumberjack’s axe carves pathways, shapes possibilities & crafts futures.

Class of 2025 — extraordinary, unstoppable, triumphant — you did it!

Four years ago, you stood on this campus full of hope — trembling with possibility, perhaps a little uncertain, maybe even a little bit lost.

Today, you stand transformed — stronger than you ever knew possible, wiser than you once imagined, ready not just to face tomorrow, but to create it.

You didn’t merely complete a journey. You conquered obstacles and forged them into achievements. What I’m saying is that . . . you didn’t just show up… you ATE — and left NO crumbs. You didn’t simply consume knowledge — you metabolized it into wisdom that is uniquely, brilliantly yours.

Class of 2025, you’re truly… extraordinary.

When you first arrived on campus, I was just beginning my journey too. We navigated that first year together — you deciphering the maze of college life, me finding my footing as president of NAU.

We’ve grown together. We’ve evolved together. And watching your remarkable journey? It has been nothing short of breathtaking.

• From the nervous energy of those first Letters, to the electric thrill of the Running of the Freshmen.

· From the blazing spirit of Homecoming, to the bleary-eyed revelation of all-nighters and the breakthroughs that followed…

· Through moments of unbridled joy, through seasons of personal struggle, through every daunting hurdle and triumph — we haven’t just walked this path. We’ve created it together, step by remarkable step.

Looking at everything you’ve accomplished? The challenges you’ve met? The transformation you’ve embodied?

That’s beyond iconic. That’s peak W!

Like when our Lumberjack community achieved R1 designation as one of the nation’s top-tier research universities, shattered fundraising records, and our football team finished undefeated defending this very dome — you’ve exemplified excellence at every turn.

So, let’s capture this moment. Let’s freeze this time. Let’s take a selfie that holds all these memories at once!

This digital memory — years from now — will transport us back to this milestone when countless hours of dedication crystallized into something extraordinary.

This image captures not merely who you are in this moment, but the infinite potential of who you are becoming.

Class of 2025 — what a profound privilege it is to stand before you at this celebration of transformation.

I am fiercely proud of you. I am deeply grateful to share this day with your families, your friends, and everyone who has been your real ones — your authentic support system — throughout this remarkable journey.

This achievement wasn’t bestowed upon you — it was forged through years of relentless determination.

You understood the assignment completely. You expanded your minds during those midnight hours in Cline Library, pushing past what you thought possible.

You sharpened your skills when obstacle emerged. You didn’t merely pass classes — you crushed every test that came your way.

You didn’t simply absorb information — you became the main characters of your own narratives, architects of a transformation uniquely, powerfully yours.

And let’s be real — our journey together wasn’t always easy. We weathered uncertain seasons. We faced unexpected storms.

But that’s the Lumberjack Way — we don’t ghost our responsibilities when the path gets steep; we face them head-on, transforming every obstacle into a launchpad for growth.

You stand here embodying the Lumberjack spirit — resilient like our mountain pines, grounded in purpose, reaching even higher — not just but as graduates but as Lumberjacks for life.

As you pursue your boldest dreams, carry this truth we’ve discovered together: real ones lift as they climb. Your transformation doesn’t end today — it continues as you elevate those around you.

Now, as you prepare to step beyond these grounds, know this with absolute certainty:

You’re entering a world that transforms at lightning speed — but you’ve already mastered the very art of transformation itself.

• Yes, you’re ready — unquestionably ready — to forge careers that hit different, that stand apart, because you’ve learned to pivot and adapt when the landscape suddenly shifts.
• Yes, you’re ready — undeniably ready — to craft lives that leave lasting legacies, because you’ve discovered how to transform every setback into a foundation for greater heights.
• Yes, you’re ready — absolutely ready — to make this world better, straight facts, because you’ve honed the essential art of creative problem-solving in ways previous generations never imagined.

Carry this moment in your hearts — with all the promise it holds:

The evolution sparked within this noble university doesn’t conclude today — it only accelerates.

A Lumberjack’s axe doesn’t merely cut through trees — it carves pathways where non existed before. It shapes possibilities. It crafts futures.

Remember this undeniable truth: when you step into any room with your NAU education and that indomitable Lumberjack spirit — they NOT like US!

This is just the beginning of your extraordinary story!