Carl Picerno ’26 address to the Class of 2026
Carl Picerno ’26, president of the senior class, presented this address at the undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 17, 2026.
Friartown! Good Morning, and welcome!
First and foremost, I would like to give glory to Almighty God, for without Him we would not be here today.
I want to take a moment to thank everyone for being here, especially our parents, and all those who have helped us get here: family, friends, faculty, staff, Father Sicard, Dean Sears, and of course, our angels watching us from above.
Who does God call us to be?
I want to point us toward a symbol that represents our shared experience here at Providence College: the torch at Calabria Plaza on Slavin Lawn, also known as the Friar flame.
So what does this flame represent? Of course its constant flicker is a reminder of God’s presence in our lives. But it also reflects our motto, veritas– our relentless pursuit of truth.
But where do we see the meaning of this flame in our everyday lives?
It is this. Here at Providence College, we are given extraordinary opportunities. We compete at the highest level in Division I athletics, explore history and tradition through the DWC program, study abroad in places like Rome, Dublin, Copenhagen, and Prague, present research at national conferences, join clubs that shape our values and passions, serve communities in need across the world, engage in respectful dialogue around difficult topics, enjoy a remarkable Senior Ring Weekend, and build friendships that will last a lifetime. And that is only a glimpse of what it means to enter through that Huxley Gate.
Why are these experiences unique to Providence College? Well, maybe other schools offer similar opportunities. But, PC is different. Here, these moments mean more. It’s that Friar flame.
These opportunities are not simply random or accidental. They are gifts entrusted to us, and blessings that invite us to grow, to serve, and to seek truth. And here at Providence College, truth is not something handed to us. It is something we must discover for ourselves.
That flame has given color to our dreams. It has pulled us out of bed, even on the coldest mornings and given us courage when we needed it most. It has shaped who we are becoming and reminded us that we are capable of so much more than we realize.
By being a flame, we seize opportunity. By being a flame, we live with a constant awareness of God’s love and guidance. By being a flame, we choose kindness, integrity, passion, and service to others.
PC has instilled this flame within us to help us be bold, challenge the world, help others, live our faith, and to never stop pursuing truth.
I will never forget our classmate Danny, alongside others, who raised money so that a security guard could travel home to Nigeria to see his family for the first time in 10 years. That is not just generosity, that is love in action. THAT is the Friar flame.
God calls us all to be a flame.
The point is this, Friartown: our education here at Providence College has taught us to stand for something. To hold onto the values that shape who God has called us to be. To build a foundation for others to follow. That Friar flame is REAL. It is HERE in Providence. It is HERE at Providence College. It is within each of us.
In a world filled with so much difficulty, disagreement, fear, and even hate, JUST be kind to one another. Be a beacon of faith, hope, and love. Be a flame.
I would like to close with this: Romans 12:2 reminds us to “not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
Class of 2026, I love you dearly. Thank you for this honor. I hope you too will never stop spreading the flame of Friartown wherever you go.
God bless you all.
Thank you.
