St. George’s University (SGU) School of Veterinary Medicine honored the Class of 2025 in a joyful and spirited commencement ceremony on June 8. The event took place at the Louis Armstrong Stadium within the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, NY, where graduates proudly crossed the stage to celebrate this milestone.
SGU provost Dr. Glen Jacobs, who is retiring June 30, began the ceremony with a warm welcome for the graduates and guests in his opening remarks. He then imparted on the graduates the importance of relying on their knowledge and skill when entering their careers.
“No matter your path, you will encounter moments where the answers are not clear and the outcomes are not guaranteed,” Dr. Jacobs said. “It is in these moments that your ability to adapt, to think critically, and to lean on your core values will truly shine. […] I am, and we are, incredibly proud of you today.”
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View the SVM Commencement Ceremony
SGU Chancellor Dr. Charles R. Modica then took to the stage to address the graduates. He commended them for their dedication to their education and the field of veterinary medicine.
“You decided you wanted to be part of a world with good news in it. You came at the right time in the right place because this world needs more good news—more dedication, more passion, more caring for animal life on this planet than ever before,” Dr. Modica said.
Next, Dr. Neil Olson, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, addressed the grads: “This is a very special day, particularly for the 233 young women and men who have completed four years of rigorous veterinary medical education and will embark on their professional careers as the world’s newest veterinarians.”
The new graduates join a strong alumni network with more than 2,700 SGU-trained veterinarians who have practiced in 49 US states and 16 countries worldwide.*
View the SVM Commencement Ceremony program
Tara Paterson, DVM ’03, president of the SVM Alumni Association and associate dean of fourth year clinical training, called on the newly-minted veterinarians to make positive impacts and give back to the field of veterinary medicine.
“Most of you here today had a mentor who made an impact on you. For some of you, they may have even been a graduate of SGU,” Dr. Paterson said. “Perhaps they influenced your decision to become a veterinarian or maybe even influenced your decision to study at SGU. And now it’s time for you to pay that forward to be a mentor and have that positive impact on the next generation of veterinarians.”
Wrapping up the ceremony was SVM Class of 2025 speaker Lindsay Ferguson, DVM ’25, of Gilbert, AZ. Following graduation, Dr. Ferguson will begin her career as an intern at a small animal practice in Scottsdale, AZ.
“Veterinary medicine is not easy,” Dr. Ferguson told her classmates. “It asks a lot of us. It will stretch your heart. It will stretch your limits. It will demand grace when you’re exhausted, courage when you’re unsure, and strength when you feel empty. But this class has already proven that we are more than capable.” When Dr. Ferguson found out she had been voted to be the class speaker by her peers, she was overwhelmed with emotion. “It’s so fulfilling to get to see everyone on the other side of this journey and be able to address all my classmates one last time,” she said.
“SGU has given me more than just a doctorate—it has shaped me into the person I always wished,” Dr. Ferguson shared with SGU. “I have a forever family and together, we have all created something so special—a promising future!”
* Based on number of students who have completed the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program from 2003-2024.
