View 6 photos

WATERVILLE — Two days after Laban Moian Nyang’au walks the stage at Thomas College, he will start his new job as a caseworker for the state of Maine.

Nyang’au, 29, studied psychology with a concentration on mental health. A first-generation college student from Kenya, he said he is excited for the next step.

“I’m the first person in my family to graduate, so it’s a big thing,” Nyang’au said. “Hoping it will work out, kind of scared — I don’t know anybody who has gone through this, so there’s a mixture of emotions.”

Nyang’au was one of more than 240 students to graduate from Thomas College on Saturday afternoon — the largest class in the private college’s 131-year history. Graduates in black robes filed into Harold Alfond Athletic Center, at the heart of the 180 West River Road campus, to the sound of bagpipes, drums and cheering families.

Thomas College offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs, including the Kiest-Morgan Scholar program, which allows students to receive a degree in three years and a master’s in one additional year. It is the only program of its kind in Maine, according to the college’s website.

John Gibson, 49, of Oakland, works full time at Hannaford Supermarkets. After his three children finished their undergraduate degrees, he said he had some extra time and decided to get his MBA online at Thomas.

“The fact that it was online made it easier for people like me that work full-time,” Gibson said. “So the workload was easier to manage that way, and the professors were great. They were very accommodating and very approachable. You could get in touch with them anytime. It made the stress of going back to school a lot easier.”

Gibson’s education was made possible through a Hannaford program that provides financial support for employees seeking postsecondary education. He said he hopes to use his new degree in human resource management to shift from retail to corporate work.

“I’ve been with my company for 33 years, always on the retail side,” Gibson said. “So I’m hoping that this degree will help me explore some opportunities in our corporate office. Some different things that they might offer down there.”

Dr. Jeannine Diddle Uzzi, president of Thomas College, gave a speech at the start of the ceremony. She noted that the word “commencement” means beginning, not end, and said the faculty is lucky to see students on their way.

“Sadly, for those of us fortunate enough to teach and mentor and get to know these amazing students, our job is to prepare them to leave us,” Uzzi said. “Everything we do at the college is to support our graduates in being able to thrive and to grow, to find happiness and to find prosperity in life and work after Thomas College.”

The class of 2025 hailed from 15 counties in Maine, 14 states outside of Maine and seven countries outside of the United States. First-generation students made up 40% of the graduating class.

Nyang’au moved to Maine in the winter and had a difficult time transitioning, but said he fell in love with the state while working with kids outdoors last summer.

“Last year summer, it kind of changed my whole perspective,” Nyang’au said. “I worked at a residential facility, so I used to take the kids for hikes in places such as Bradbury and all of that — I loved the place, I loved Maine. I fell in love with the place, so (I’m) excited to stay.”

Monday will be his first day working for the Maine Office of Child and Family Services.

Gibson wore a cap painted by his daughter with the words “Pap’s adventure,” a nudge to his nickname and the family trips he plans every year. He said he is excited to celebrate with family after the ceremony.

“It’s weird. I haven’t graduated in about 30 years, when I got my undergrad,” Gibson said. “So it’s a little different, little nervous, but I’m excited — my family’s going to be in the crowd. “