Over two days last weekend, Roger Williams University conferred degrees to more than 1,000 students.

More than 800 undergrads walked the stage Saturday, May 14 joining 200 adult learners in culmination of their college careers. A mix of bachelor’s and master’s degrees given that day totaled 1,045, including 88 graduates earning their master’s and 120 students graduating from the School of Continued Studies.

On Friday May 13, RWU Law School graduated 87 students, a ceremony highlighted by an address from U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez .

“Civil rights remain the unfinished business of America,” Perez said. “You have a remarkable opportunity here to make sure you are relevant in dealing with the defining issues of our time. For too many, opportunities remain elusive, and you can be part of the expansion of that opportunity.”

Aside from the from the graduates, three special guests received honorary doctorates for having roles in the revitalization of Providence.The recipients included Barnaby Evans, creator of Waterfire; Umberto ‘Bert’ Crenca, the Artistic Director of AS220 in Providence; and architect and planner William Warner, whose degree was awarded posthumously to his wife, Margaret.

Evans delivered the keynote commencement address, describing the honor of having a degree with Roger Williams on it, in reflection of the founder of Rhode Island.

Danielle McCullough delivered the student commencement address, comparing her experience as a Roger Williams and study abroad student to being an orca who looks for a pod in which to get support and guidance. McCullough, who double majored in secondary education and Spanish, noted that her professor’s passion for education was her motivation for following that path herself.

“One of the most amazing things about Roger is that we get to learn from peers with many different backgrounds,” said McCullough, who was lauded for her work creating an inclusive, culturally aware campus community. “Not everyone has their parents as their biggest support system, but I did notice that everyone has someone that made this college journey possible for them. No matter who it was, someone either inspired you or pushed you along the way and supported your dreams. This graduation is for them too, the people who have guided us to this point.”

Happy about graduating, McCullough also said it comes with a new responsibility.

“Roger has done its best to make us global citizens and we should want that for everyone in our lives. That’s the lesson that the orcas teach us. We were lucky enough to have the love, encouragement and support of our pods, and it is our time to encourage others. Whether that’s inspiring someone to continue their education, travel the world of pursue a dream that they have, we should support those people in our lives.”

The ceremony also celebrated the ninth annual Excellence in Teaching award presented to Michael Melton, professor of Finance in the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business, and director of the Center for Advanced Financial Education at Roger Williams. It’s an experiential learning opportunity for a select group of finance students, who manage a $100,000 investment portfolio during the academic year. Melton took the time to remind the graduates of the faculty’s pride for their past, present and future achievements.

“As I tell my students, nothing makes me prouder than to see them succeed in life after graduation,” Melton said. “No matter what you choose to do after this day, like become a marine biologist, a journalist, an engineer, or even a private wealth manager, my advice is always the same: Not knowing everything isn’t a bad thing. As long as you show up and work hard, all of you will be successful.”