On April 27, students, staff and alumni gathered at the Art & Education building to celebrate the TRIO End of the Year Celebration 2025, an event specially honoring seniors who will graduate this semester. The evening highlighted the achievements of Doane students. It was supported by the TRIO Program, which empowers first-generation students, those with limited financial resources, and students with disabilities by providing academic resources, transformative experiences and skill development.
The event began with a tree-planting ceremony, in which students were the main protagonists, helping to contribute to this beautiful tradition. Jeremy Caldwell, Writing Center director, shared a brief speech and a poem titled “You as White Pine.” In his remarks, Caldwell highlighted the significance of the ceremony.
“Our TRIO tree, representing the accomplishments of the 25 senior class, will be planted in this grove, among other trees of its kind, to grow strong roots and fully establish its place at Doane,” Caldwell said. He introduced his poem by saying, “We would like to celebrate and recognize you. So I crafted a poem for this occasion, an ode that celebrates past, present and future TRIO graduates.”
Afterward, everyone returned to the main hall, where Beth Jacobson, executive director of Academic Support Services, warmly welcomed and congratulated the seniors for their accomplishments. A key moment of the evening was an interview between Blake Tobey, assistant director of the Academic Success Center, and Grace Dienes, a Doane alum who graduated in May 2023 with a degree in Biology and now works in Lincoln. She shared how the personal connections she built at Doane played a significant role in her career and spoke about the value of attending a smaller campus, where every student is seen and supported.
The celebration continued with a delicious dinner, with the cookies being a clear crowd favorite. The night concluded with an awards ceremony honoring some of the students’ academic achievements. The event concluded with a “photo time,” during which attendees captured joyful memories of the evening.
The TRIO End of the Year Celebration 2025 was a meaningful way to recognize the growth, community and success of TRIO Doane’s students, empowering them to embark on the next chapter of their lives after graduation.
