College of DuPage Celebrates 58th Commencement

Approximately 940 graduates crossed the stage during College of DuPage’s 58^th Commencement.

The College awarded more than 3,100 degrees and certificates during the 2024-2025 academic year. Outstanding graduates and speakers John Ogan of Warrenville and Bailey Svoboda of Willowbrook congratulated their fellow graduates on their many accomplishments.

2025 Outstanding Graduates

“My hope for everyone is to be filled with a sense of pride and gratitude to have been a part of this incredible campus of unlimited possibilities,” said Ogan, who received the North Central College Honors Transfer Scholarship, awarded to one COD student annually. “Our journey has been challenging, fun, exhausting, exciting and enriching.”

Svoboda (pictured above), who earned her associate degree in nursing and plans to become an oncology certified nurse, asked everyone to think about their stories in reaching this moment.

“Though tonight offers us the opportunity to reflect and consider the challenges we’ve faced, it is more important that we emphasize our accomplishments as a result of those challenges,” she said. “All of us, no matter how long it took to get here or how challenging the path may have been, are going to be leaving here tonight as success stories.”

College of DuPage is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Serving more than 29,000 students each term, College of DuPage is the largest public community college in the state of Illinois. The College grants seven associate degrees and offers more than 170 career and technical certificates in over 50 areas of study.