Coe College announces 2025 Commencement speakers
A prominent Eastern Iowa businessman, philanthropist and Coe College alumnus, as well as an accomplished current student will address the Class of 2025 during Coe’s Commencement Sunday, May 4. Forest Brown ’90, president of Brown's Family of Dealerships, will address Kohawk graduates as Coe College’s 2025 Commencement guest speaker. Celestte Panduro-Orellana ’25 will address her classmates as the student speaker.
Commencement guest speaker
Forest Brown has a passion for the local communities his businesses serve, for Coe College and especially for his family. His role as guest speaker will be a particularly proud moment as his daughter, Reagan, will be listening as a member of Coe’s Class of 2025.
After graduating from Coe with a degree in business administration, Brown went to work in the automotive industry. He is currently the president of Brown's Family of Dealerships, which originated in Guttenberg, Iowa. Now, he leads four dealerships across Eastern Iowa including Guttenberg, Elkader, West Branch and Victory Ford in Dyersville. The team and family under the Brown’s umbrella has grown to more than 200 employees, and has won numerous “Best of” and “Community Choice” awards, always treating customers like family.
A strong proponent of community, Brown maintains active leadership roles outside his professional life. He is president of the Brown’s Hometown Victories Foundation, a non-profit focused on giving back to the areas his dealerships serve. Brown has also served as president of the Guttenberg Chamber of Commerce, vice chair for a local living center, president of his church council and chairperson for a professional dealership association.
Brown and his wife Tina live in Guttenberg and have three children.
Commencement student speaker
Several years ago Coe initiated an annual tradition of including a student speaker in the Commencement ceremony. In March, all interested seniors were invited to submit their proposed speeches to the President's Office.
A selection committee reviewed all submissions and chose Celestte Panduro-Orellana ’25 as this year's senior Commencement speaker. She is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and is majoring in political science, international studies and Spanish.
As a Kohawk, Panduro-Orellana is a Clark Merit Scholar and was named a 2024 Gilman Scholar by the United States Department of State. She also served as student body president for the 2023-24 academic year.
Commencement details
Coe’s Commencement ceremony will be held Sunday, May 4, at 10 a.m. on the Stewart Memorial Library Quad.