NEW LONDON — The United States Coast Guard Academy graduated 243 students at its 142nd commencement Wednesday, preparing to send many to far-off cutters following their demanding but community-building 200-week educational journey.
Two Coast Guard helicopters flew overhead as the newly minted ensigns heard the words, “You may now divest yourselves of all symbols of cadet life” and consequently threw their cadet covers into the air.
The Class of 2023 ― which includes 11 people from Connecticut ― is 42% women and 34% underrepresented minorities, with three cadets from other countries: the Philippines, Costa Rica and Mauritius. They and a few students with medical issues were not among the 235 ensigns commissioned Wednesday.
“You are now leaders of people and of the Coast Guard,” said U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the keynote speaker. “You are also the leader of your own life. What type of life do you want for yourself? What do you want out of life? What meaning do you want your life to have? Think about it. It will help you act with purpose.”
Mayorkas shared three leadership lessons he said Nathan Bovankovich, who entered the academy with the Class of 2023, wrote before his death: be a servant, under-promise and over-deliver, and deeper meaning can be found in a world without putting people into boxes.
According to the academy, Bovankovich was selected president as a third-class…
