Salem, Mass. – Perseverance throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and the support that helped make it possible, are among the themes to be addressed by Salem State University’s student commencement speakers later this week.
For each of the three commencement ceremonies, a student was selected to address fellow graduates. The student speakers are Dany Acosta, of Lynn (Friday, May 19 at 10 am), Michael Corley, of Salem (Friday, May 19 at 3 pm), and Eunice Tabea, of Lowell (Saturday, May 20 at 10 am).
The 3 pm ceremony on May 19 will also feature an address from Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Salem State Alumna Kimberley Driscoll ’89, JD, who will receive an honorary doctorate for her commitment to making positive change through public service.
All ceremonies will be held in the O’Keefe Complex’s Rockett Arena at 225 Canal Street in Salem.
About the 2023 Student Commencement Speakers
Friday, May 19 at 10 am, Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services
Dany Acosta, of Lynn, will graduate with his Master of Social Work (MSW) and hopes his address will motivate classmates to continue the resilience and passion that got them to commencement, devoting it now to launching their careers and bettering the world around them.
“If we all use our Viking Spirit long after graduation, we can inspire everlasting changes worldwide,” said Acosta, who received his Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from Salem State in 2021 and his associate degree from North Shore Community College in 2018.
Acosta has inspired others by sharing his perseverance through chronic kidney failure, having his eyes removed and receiving a kidney transplant. As a student, he successfully advocated for equitable transportation to the School of Social Work.
Acosta is the author of Blindly Painting Words of Love: A Poet's Adventure and serves as a mentor and English teacher at Centerboard in Lynn, where he has lived since 2014.
Friday, May 19 at 3 pm, Bertolon School of Business and select programs within the College of Arts and Sciences
Michael Corley, of Salem, will receive a Bachelor of Science in media and communication with a concentration in journalism and minors in English and history. His graduation comes after years of leadership on campus. Corley is a board member of the Frederick E. Berry Institute of Politics (Berry IOP), served as president of the Student Government Association (SGA), was recognized on the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Student Voting Honor Role, received a civic engagement scholarship from the Berry IOP, and served as a Viking Votes ambassador, among other work.
In his speech, Corley plans to reflect on his engagement in the Salem State community.
“I hope that my fellow graduates take away from my address that Salem State is more than just a place where we got our degrees, it’s a place where we found a community,” said Corley.
Corley will also discuss how COVID-19 had an impact on graduates’ college experiences, and the resilience that brought them to commencement.
Saturday, May 20, at 10 am, McKeown School of Education, select programs within the College of Arts and Sciences
Eunice Tabea, of Lowell, will receive a Bachelor of Science in Education with minors in French and American studies.
“I chose to address the McKeown School of Education in order to reciprocate the strong support I received from my peers and professors throughout my time in my program. Without any of them, I wouldn't have the sense of community that many students need,” Tabea said.
In their address, Tabea hopes to inspire fellow graduates to challenge themselves following graduation, calling mistakes “the beauty of humanity” that offer opportunities to learn.
They said, “Never be scared to try something new, if it doesn't go the way you want it to go, you will have the space to try again and improve.”
While at Salem State, Tabea has served as a tour guide for university admissions, a host for Salem State's Accepted Students Day intersectional student panel, and a model for the Black Student Union fashion show.