Congratulations to the IWP Class of 2025!

On Saturday, May 17th, the IWP community celebrated Commencement for the Class of 2025.

Graduates received doctorates, master’s degrees, and certificates. Both in-person and online graduates participated in the ceremony, which took place at the Fairmont in Washington, D.C.

IWP Professor of Economics Dr. Anne Bradley served as the Master of Ceremonies, and cadets from Georgetown Army ROTC posted the colors. Fr. Nathanael Anderson (’14) gave the invocation.

IWP President Amb. Aldona Woś welcomed the graduates and encouraged them to be moral leaders while working to ensure our country’s peace and freedom. Read her full remarks here.

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik gave the keynote address. She encouraged the graduates to invest their lives in careers that will contribute to the United States meeting the challenges of the 21st century. Calling attention to economic dynamism, government by consent of the governed, and the opportunities for social mobility, she urged the graduates to maintain a constant vigilance against threats to those strengths of the United States while seeking “peace through overwhelming strength.”

Specifically, Ms. Stefanik focused attention on the threat to American exceptionalism posed by China, whose government stands in stark contrast to the United States. The People’s Republic of China’s authoritarian government suppresses human rights and exists only for “the perpetuation of the Communist Party.” In contrast, the United States offers a “different thesis” of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” that allows individuals to prosper. The threat posed by China requires the response of “multi-faceted intellectual warfare.” Facets of such intellectual warfare include strong economic growth at home, a strong presence in the Indo-Pacific region, and the championing of the human rights of all people. Ms. Stefanik declared that “shining light on abusive regimes is a disinfectant” that destroys the power of authoritarianism.

Having highlighted the challenges facing the United States and its citizens, Ms. Stefanik closed her address by encouraging the graduates to become involved in “leading in innovation” and asked them to “serve others and serve our great nation,” and to “give back to society.” Just as the Green Mountain Boys, led by Ethan Allen, captured Fort Ticonderoga in 1775, securing for the colonists the first offensive victory of the Revolutionary War, Ms. Stefanik called upon the graduates to recognize the opportunities to secure offensive victories in the current challenges by implementing the ideals which they had studied and experienced during their time at IWP: the arts of statecraft, American exceptionalism, and moral clarity, and to do so with “courage, unity, and commitment.”

Alex Brown was recognized as the Salutatorian of the Class of 2025, and David Torres was recognized as the Valedictorian.

In his valedictory remarks, David reflected on the IWP education: “Despite the diversity of our experiences—whether in-person or online—we are united by a shared dedication to the study and practice of statecraft and national security. We have all emerged from this program with a profound appreciation for the principles of the American Founding and the Western moral tradition. What binds us is a common vocation: the calling to prevent international conflicts and to shape policy in pursuit of peace and justice.” Read the full valedictory address here.

During the diploma ceremony, each graduate was recognized, along with details about their background, research at IWP, and future plans.

Members of the Class of 2025 are working at organizations such as the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the Senate Armed Services Committee, as well as defense contractors, think tanks, trade associations, and more.

The ceremony concluded with a welcome from the Vice President of the IWP Alumni Board and was followed by a special reception for all guests.