The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing proudly celebrated the graduation of 130 students during the Spring 2025 Convocation Ceremony, marking a significant milestone in their academic and professional journeys. The ceremony featured BSN alumna Molly Cook, a Texas State Senator, registered nurse, and passionate advocate for public health.
Held at Bass Concert Hall on May 9, 2025, the ceremony honored students from across five programs:
- 62 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates
- 6 Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) graduates
- 13 Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduates
- 41 Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduates
- 8 Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing (PMSN) recipients
Texas State Senator Molly Cook, who represents Senate District 15 in Houston, delivered this year’s keynote address.
In her heartfelt commencement address, Senator Cook celebrates the graduates of 2025 for answering the noble call of nursing. Drawing from her own experience at UT Austin and her journey from bedside care to the Texas Senate, she highlights how nursing instills the values of trust, advocacy and leadership. She reminds the graduates that their work will bring comfort and healing to countless lives and that their unique perspective as nurses is urgently needed not just in healthcare, but in policy, public service and beyond.
Senator Cook encourages the new graduates to stay open to unexpected paths, to care for themselves as diligently as they care for others, and to embrace the power they hold as nurses.
“Nursing is the work of steady hands and sharp minds, but it’s also the work of open hearts,” Senator Cook said in her keynote address. “Nurses are the people who keep showing up from birth to death, during disasters or mass casualties, or in the quiet of the night, keeping watch over people in your care. You are the constant. You are the calm. You are the courage and the connection.”
The ceremony also featured remarks from three student speakers who represented the breadth and spirit of this year’s class.
Nicole Bray, DNP, MSN, RN, CCRN, CNE, NPD-BC, shared an inspiring speech reflecting on the challenges, growth and purpose found in the journey of becoming a nurse. She emphasized the importance of community and recounted a moving story from her work in the ICU during the pandemic that forever shaped her understanding of nursing as deeply human work.
Bray called on her peers not just to join the health care system but to transform it, urging them to lead with compassion, courage and innovation. Her message was both a tribute to the profession and a call to action.
“Nursing is not just about medications and procedures; it’s about the moments in between,” Bray said during her speech. “Nursing is about advocacy, presence and compassion, showing up for people when they need us most. It’s about treating people not as patients but as human beings.”
In her address, Megan Anderson, MSN, RN, reflected on the challenges and triumphs of her academic journey, including balancing motherhood, overcoming personal obstacles and launching the Aspiring Nurses Academy to inspire local youth.
Anderson honored the support of faculty, family and peers, emphasized the importance of representation in nursing and encouraged fellow graduates to lead with compassion and purpose.
“Leadership isn’t just about having a seat at the table; it’s about building a bigger one,” Anderson said during her speech.
Edgar Salas, BSN, spoke on behalf of the undergraduate Class of 2025, expressing gratitude to faculty, staff, patients and family for their support throughout the journey. He shared personal struggles from his early days on campus, recounted how his parents’ sacrifices and words of encouragement gave him the strength to persevere.
Salas emphasized resilience, compassion and the unique challenges of nursing school, while reminding his fellow graduates that every obstacle they’ve overcome has prepared them to serve with humanity and purpose in their future careers.
“Now, I leave you all, my graduates of 2025, a quote by children’s author, Dr. Suess, ‘Congratulations, today is your day, you’re off to great places, you’re off and away! You have brains in your head, and feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know.’ And you are the Longhorns who will decide where to go. Remember, what starts here changes the world, so let’s go change the world.”
Watch the School of Nursing - Spring 2025 Convocation Ceremony