“The world needs your creativity, creative problem solving, strategic thinking, and fresh perspectives more than ever.”
Vann Graves, Brandcenter Executive Director
On May 10, the Brandcenter at VCU celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2025 in a ceremony filled with laughter, reflection, and inspiration. The event brought together students, faculty, family, and friends to mark the end of an unforgettable two-year journey—and the beginning of what promises to be a bold future.
Executive Director Vann Graves welcomed the audience with a mic check, charming attendees into cheers and laughs, while also marking the gravity of the moment. Speaking directly to members of the Class of 2025, he told the graduating class, “Today you’re walking out to our industry as forces to be reckoned with, at a time where the world needs your creativity, creative problem solving, strategic thinking, and fresh perspectives more than ever.”
The program was emceed by TC Cannon, SiriusXM executive producer for Michael Smerconish and podcast host of TC After Dark, whose warmth and wit set the tone for a joyful and heartfelt celebration. “No matter what the circumstances, no matter what it means in your life—big or small—show up and don’t leave,” she advised the graduating class.
“This is sacred work. It’s spiritual. It deserves your attention, your honesty and your joy. Creativity is still the most powerful force we have.”
David “Shingy” Shing, Digital Prophet at Shingy
This year’s keynote speaker, David “Shingy” Shing, Digital Prophet at Shingy, brought a mix of his eclectic charm and grounded wisdom to the stage speaking on creativity and initiations experienced in his career. The globally recognized creative visionary encouraged graduates to stay wild, stay open, and stay weird. “Creativity isn’t fluff. It’s power,” he said. “You’re not the back room of this business. You are the front edge of change. Culture follows where creativity leads. This is sacred work. It’s spiritual. It deserves your attention, your honesty and your joy. Creativity is still the most powerful force we have.”
“You’re the smartest, most talented, most driven people I’ve ever met. You are a group of creative and strategic monsters.”
Henry Coffey (Copywriting, 2025), Student speaker
Every year the graduating class votes for a student speaker to represent their class. This year copywriter Henry Coffey delivered a touching speech that balanced humor with heartfelt admiration for his peers. “We may have already peaked,” he joked, before adding, “but I wouldn’t lie to you, I’m being serious, when I say that you’re the smartest, most talented, most driven people I’ve ever met. You are a group of creative and strategic monsters, and I mean that in the best way.” He reflected on their very first week of school, where instead of blowing off a simple icebreaker exercise, his classmates “redesigned the peanut butter and jelly sandwich like it was a NASA funded experiment.” He added “You bring an absurd, unnecessary level of passion to every single thing you do… I will always be grateful that I showed up here at the same time as you all—you all in particular.”
This year’s Student Initiative Award was presented to art direction student Elio Conroy, recognized by faculty and leadership for their outstanding contributions to the Brandcenter community. “This person is warm and endearing, quick to laugh and even quicker to help,” said faculty member and Art Direction Chair Tom Scharpf in his introduction. “To know this person is to love this person.”
A surprise moment of the ceremony came when Graves honored Associate Director Ashley Sommardahl with a sparkling, rhinestone-covered “GOAT” pendant in recognition of her 20 years at the Brandcenter, celebrating her as the “Greatest of All Time” in the hearts of the Brandcenter community. Sommardahl then presented the graduates as Graves handed out diplomas and faculty hugged and cheered everyone on.
Graves closed the ceremony with a charge to the Class of 2025: “Today marks the end of your time at the Brandcenter, but it’s just the beginning of your time to create impact in this world. The campaigns you’ll create, the brands you’ll build, the problems you’ll solve—it all starts right now.”
Congratulations to the Class of 2025—strategists, storytellers, artists, culture makers. Your absurd passion and creative power are exactly what the world needs.
You can view a recording of the ceremony on YouTube: