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The University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Stockbridge School of Agriculture celebrated its Class of 2025 associate degree graduates at the school’s 103^rd Commencement on Saturday, May 17 in Stockbridge Hall’s Bowker Auditorium.

The Stockbridge School is one of the oldest and most prestigious agricultural programs in North America, and this year’s 21 graduates each received an associate of science degree in one of five majors: arboriculture and community forest management, landscape contracting, sustainable food and farming, sustainable horticulture and turfgrass management.

After graduates processed into the Bowker Auditorium, accompanied by a fanfare from the UMass Amherst Graduate Brass Quintet, alumnus Kevin Hollister ’78 sang the National Anthem. Baoshan Xing, director of the Stockbridge School, welcomed the assembled students and their families before Michael Fox, dean of the College of Natural Sciences, praised the graduates for their work in joining a prestigious tradition.

“For over 100 years,” Fox said, “the Stockbridge School of Agriculture has offered associate degree programs in agricultural fields. These programs have played an essential role in preparing generations of Massachusetts residents to enter the farming and green industry sectors.”

UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes told the assembled students and audience that UMass Amherst, a land-grant university, “is rooted in education, research and service that benefits our communities and our world. As stewards of the environment, perhaps no one embodies this more than you, our Stockbridge graduates.”

The class has “led with knowledge, heart, purpose and a deep commitment to creating a more sustainable future for all,” Reyes continued.

Xing presented the Stockbridge School’s two most prestigious honors: The John W. Denison and the Roland H. Verbeck awards.

The Denison Award for Academic Achievement and Student Leadership was presented to Jake Rasmuson, a landscape contracting major, for his “academic discipline and dedication, strong work ethic, optimistic attitude and team sportsmanship.”

The Verbeck Award is given to a student who exemplifies and upholds the ideals and spirit of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. Roland Verbeck was director from 1928 to 1954. During his term, Verbeck was known for his boundless enthusiasm. This year’s Verbeck award goes to Henry Holmes IV, an arboriculture and community forest management graduate, a senior with “strong leadership skills, integrity, dependability, commitment and enthusiastic loyalty to the arboriculture program and tree industry.”

Teagan L. Fraser and Decker N. Hardin were each recognized for their academic distinction in maintaining GPAs between 3.5 and 3.74.

The graduates were then conferred their degrees and pinned each other with the traditional Stockbridge pin, which symbolizes the connections they share with one another and the greater Stockbridge alumni community.

The associate degree recipients of the Class of 2025 are:

Arboriculture and Community Forest Management

• Teagan L. Fraser
• Henry L. Holmes IV
• Alexander F. Minehan
• Ryder A. Southwick

Landscape Contracting

• Benjamin O. Haines
• Matteo N. Mariano
• Jake R. Rasmuson

Sustainable Food and Farming

• Ryan P. Clegg
• Decker N. Hardin
• Cameron J. Boylan (January graduate)

Sustainable Horticulture

• Elijah I. N. Daniel
• Matthew A. De Noronha
• Nolan E. Doyle
• Neil T. Howard
• Samuel O. LeFrancois
• Michele M. Meder
• Avery L. Novak
• Makaliee M. Willis
• Alison R. Carroll (January graduate)

Turfgrass Management

• Peter M. Breitmaier Jr.
• John P. Collins
• Jacob C. Dolan
• Toby D. Maziarz
• Matthew R. Gillis (January graduate)