Welch Delivers Commencement Address at St. Johnsbury Academy’s 2026 Graduation Ceremony

ST. JOHNSBURY, VT – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) delivered a commencement address at St. Johnsbury Academy’s 2026 graduation ceremony. Senator Welch expressed support for St. Johnsbury Academy’s mission to cultivate communities that center on respect, are grounded in Vermont values, and embrace a diversity of ideas.  

“We’re all aware that right now, things are not going well. There’s an enormous amount of

turbulence in civic life. And the question for each of us is: how do we stand up for the Vermont code of freedom and unity? It’s not a world where we want it to be the survival of the fittest. It’s not a world where we want to get ahead at the expense of others. It’s not a world where you can measure your worth by the size of your bank account. We want a world where the values that you have lived by in your four years here at St. Johnsbury—the values that Vermonters have lived by in rural America and here in this wonderful community of St. Johnsbury—really matter,” said Senator Welch. 

Senator Welch continued: “The people you disagree with can be your friends. They can have the same values you do; the same commitment to making Vermont a better place; the same desire that their children succeed and be happy. They can have that same animation, that same motivation that you have—even if you disagree. It’s been so important to me, especially in these times where there’s so much division, and where people take such—almost pleasure—in ridiculing those they disagree with to remember the acts of kindness I’ve received along the way so that those values—of friendship, of community, of freedom and unity—apply to all of us.  

“So, coming from St. Johnsbury, having been blessed with attending this extraordinary institution that has been here for 183 years, you have been so fortunate to have an education that’s equipped you with a lot of the skills you need, but it’s equipped you with the values that are going to be so essential to your happiness, your capacity to contribute, and to live a full life of purpose and a full life of friendship.” 

Watch a livestream of the event below: 

Earlier this month, St. Johnsbury Headmaster Dr. Sharon Howell shared her excitement about Senator Welch’s commencement address: “Peter Welch has been a champion of the Northeast Kingdom and clear in his appreciation for both St. Johnsbury Academy and the St. Johnsbury community. He has strong convictions about how people should treat one another as neighbors, Vermonters, and Americans, and he is as good a role model as I can imagine for our young people going into the world at this moment in our history. We are so fortunate that he is joining us to celebrate our 184th Commencement.”