UA awards more than 3000 degrees, certificates at 16 commencement ceremonies

Leona Long

The University of Ƶhas come a long way since its first commencement ceremony in 1923. That year, one student, John Sexton Shanly, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from ƵAgricultural College and School of Mines. This year, UA is awarding more than 3,200 occupational endorsements, certificates and degrees.

 

Commencement is a time to rejoice in our students accomplishments. It’s also an opportunity to remember the role that UA faculty and staff have in our student’s educational journey.

 

“Congratulations and thank you to our faculty and staff,” said UA President of Alaska Jim Johnsen at . “You have provided essential support, instruction, and inspiration. You too should be proud of what your graduates have accomplished and for how well they are prepared to move forward.”

 

We will honor our students’ accomplishments at 16 commencement ceremonies across the state. Some of these celebrations will be held at venues that can accommodate thousands of people like the Carlson Center in Fairbanks or the ƵAirlines Center in Anchorage.

 

For our rural community campuses, commencement considerably smaller, yet attended by almost everyone in the community. These ceremonies often include guest graduates from other UA campuses and sometimes universities outside Alaska. It's an opportunity for all those graduating to share their joy and accomplishments with their home community.

 

For a small school on the south bank of the Yukon River, UAF commencencement is also a . The entire Eagle Community School, including 21 students and 10 adult chaperones are coming to cheer on Kristy Jones-Robbins and Zach Sanders as they receive their master’s degrees.

 

“We wanted to be an example to our students,” Jones-Robbins said. “Sometimes they can’t visualize it until they see it happen.”

 

University of Ƶcommencement ceremonies include:

 

Fort Wainwright military commencement

Monday, April 29

 

University of ƵFairbanks, Kuskokwim Campus

Thursday, May 2

 

University of ƵSoutheast, Sitka 

Friday, May 3

 

University of ƵSoutheast, Ketchikan 

Saturday, May 4

 

University of ƵFairbanks

Saturday, May 4
Watch livestream on

 

University of ƵAnchorage

Sunday, May 5
Watch on

University of ƵSoutheast

Sunday, May 5

Watch livestream on

 

University of ƵAnchorage, Prince William Sound College (Valdez)

Wednesday, May 8

 

University of ƵAnchorage, Kachemak Bay Campus (Ƶr)

Wednesday, May 8

 

University of ƵAnchorage, Kenai Peninsula College

Thursday, May 9

 

University of ƵFairbanks, Northwest Campus (Nome)

Thursday, May 9

 

University of ƵAnchorage, Mat-Su College (Palmer)

Friday, May 10

 

University of ƵAnchorage, Kodiak College

Friday, May 10

 

University of ƵFairbanks, Chukchi Campus (Kotzebue)

Friday, May 10

 

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) Military graduation

Friday, May 10

 

University of ƵFairbanks, Bristol Bay Campus (Dillingham)

Saturday, May 11

 

University of ƵFairbanks, Interior ƵCampus

Fort Yukon Center

Thursday, May 16