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Gregory Garin arrived at his first ������٠swing dancing class with trepidation, but the jazzy beats soon inspired him to improvise some moves.

“You make decisions on the fly, communicating with your partners to create something,” said Garin, calling swing dancing one of the most enjoyable experiences of his life. “At first I was self-conscious, but I was reassured by people who smiled and told me that it was OK to make mistakes.”

Meaningful connections, words of encouragement, new experiences: UMD’s 2025 student commencement speaker hopes to share and develop all of those as he embarks on a career as an elementary school teacher.

Garin, who is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science and technology, plans to enroll this summer in the Master of Education program at UMD’s College of Education and join a profession that “carries a tremendous amount of responsibility,” he said.

“When I started, I wasn't sure how my newfound passion and excitement for plants, animals and the environment mapped onto my future,” said the native of Columbia, Md., who transferred to ������Ůafter receiving an associate’s degree from Howard Community College. “My experiences and classes at ������Ůhave helped me collect my bearings regarding what I ultimately want to do with myself.”

Gregory Garin '25 with the new goat kids born at the Campus Farm. Photo by Andrew Muir

Garin’s classwork took him to a local farm, where he learned concepts about soil erosion, water runoff and the effects of poor farming decisions; and to Frederick County, Md., where he explored bovine grazing systems designed to ward off parasites and improve quality of life. At a Pennsylvania farm, Garin witnessed “no-till” agriculture, where soil remains undisturbed, sustaining the life of microorganisms that promote food health.

He worked closely with , an internationally recognized expert on soil science, nutrient cycling and cover crop systems, who recalled his intensity as he explored deeper agriculture ideas.

“He connected the way the farmer allowed weeds to grow in some areas to the impact of biodiversity on ecological pest control in others,” said Weil. “He seemed to relish every challenge I put forward.”

Weil recalled Garin’s smile as he rode his scooter into the classroom before lectures. “Greg is a uniquely creative and committed individual, an effective and original communicator, and a bundle of energy and ideas,” he said.

Though environmental science is Garin’s passion, elementary education is his calling, a discovery he made as an assistant teacher at a Montessori school. He’s also served as a youth ski instructor, and a counselor at culinary and “climate action” camps.

While agriculture is not a traditional elementary school subject, Garin looks forward to introducing concepts about farming and sustainability into his classroom by assigning his students Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax,” which introduces children to environmental vulnerabilities, for example, or teaching math by adding or subtracting seeds.

“Food is an exciting and important part of literally every person’s life,” he said. “I see myself posing questions like, ‘How do things grow on a farm?’ ‘How do they affect other things?’ I’d love for my future students to develop an awareness of agriculture and the world around them.”

His message to fellow grads: “Choose a career path that feels important, worthwhile and sparks a sense of fulfillment. Eight hours a day, five days a week for the next several decades of life is a rather long time; if you love, or at least like, what you do, it will help satisfy your heart, mind and spirit.”

Top photo by John Consoli