UAF to host 103rd commencement ceremony

The ´ºË®ÌÃÊÓƵ will honor the Class of 2025 during its 103rd commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 3, at 1 p.m. at the Carlson Center in ´ºË®ÌÃÊÓƵ.

The university's first commencement took place in 1923, when the sole graduate, John Sexton Shanly, received a bachelor’s degree in agriculture. On Saturday, UAF expects to confer approximately 1,184 degrees on 1,110 students. Some students will receive more than one degree. The commencement ceremony includes graduates from summer and fall 2024 and spring 2025.

University of Alaska President Pat Pitney; UA regents Dennis Michel, Karen Perdue and Ralph Seekins; UAF Provost Anupma Prakash; and UAF Graduate School Interim Director Emeline Jones will help UAF Chancellor Daniel White confer degrees. The Iñu-Yupiaq Dance Group will open the event.

The student speaker will be Kyle Banning, who is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences. This year’s outstanding students are Darya Kholodova, recipient of the Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award honoring an outstanding bachelor’s degree candidate; Sebastian Toscano-Arteaga, recipient of the Joel Wiegert Award honoring an outstanding associate degree candidate; and Sarah Manriquez, recipient of the Gray Tilly Memorial Award honoring an outstanding nontraditional graduating candidate.

Banning will be the procession’s student marshal. 

Fifteen retiring staff and faculty members will be granted emeritus status, a title given to those who have served the university with distinction for at least 10 years.

They are: Leif E. Albertson, professor of extension; Andreas P. Anger, professor of applied business and accounting; Brian M. Barnes, professor of biological sciences and director of the Institute of Arctic Biology; Nancy Bigelow, director of Alaska Quaternary Center; Julie M. Cascio, associate professor of extension; Bernard J. Coakley, professor of geophysics; John Gimbel, professor of mathematics; Paul W. Layer, professor of geophysics; Jenifer H. McBeath, professor of plant pathology and biotechnology; Anupma Prakash, provost and executive vice chancellor; Anthony D. Rickard, professor of mathematics education; Howard C. Sparks, professor of accounting; Horacio A. Toniolo, professor of civil engineering; Amy L. Vinlove, dean of the School of Education; and Mingchu Zhang, professor of natural resources and environmental studies.

This year’s honorary degree recipients are Larry Bartlett, Hʉkk’aaghneestaatlno Lorraine David, Pauline Hobson and Cautekaq Eva Evelyn Yanez. Robert Byrd, Emily Edenshaw, Steve Holmberg and Togi Letuligasenoa will receive Meritorious Service Awards.

Honorary degree and Meritorious Service Award recipients, emeriti, the student speaker and student award winners will be celebrated at a ceremony on Friday, May 2, at 5:30 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall on the Troth Yeddha’ Campus in ´ºË®ÌÃÊÓƵ. UAF will also host a Ph.D. hooding ceremony on May 2 at 11 a.m. in the Davis Concert Hall.

On Saturday, the Carlson Center will be open for guest seating at noon, and the processional will begin at 1 p.m. The event will stream live on the and the . 

Class of 2025 profile

The following provides a snapshot of the UAF 2025 graduating class. These are preliminary numbers, current as of April 28, 2024. Final statistics will not be available until early September.

• 1,184 awards expected to be conferred on approximately 1,110 students:
• 55 occupational endorsements
• 186 certificates
• 237 associate degrees
• 471 bachelor’s degrees
• 210 master’s degrees
• 31 doctorates
• 48 recommendations for education licensure

 

2025 commencement schedule

The following is a schedule of commencement activities. 

Friday, May 2

Ph.D. hooding ceremony — 11 a.m., Davis Concert Hall 

This ceremony celebrates graduates earning doctoral degrees.

Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for guest seating.

Honoree recognition ceremony — 5:30 p.m., Davis Concert Hall

This ceremony celebrates honorary degree and Meritorious Service Award recipients, emeriti, student speaker and student award winners, Davis Concert Hall. 

Doors open at 5 p.m. for guest seating. 

Saturday, May 3

All events are at the Carlson Center in ´ºË®ÌÃÊÓƵ. The ceremony will last approximately 2-3 hours. Commencement will stream on the UAF YouTube channel and the UAF Facebook page.

11 a.m. — Students arrive and check in for lineup.

Noon — Carlson Center opens for guest seating.

12:30 p.m. — Graduates, stage party and faculty line up.

1 p.m. — Academic procession begins; ceremony follows.

 

ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Kristin Summerlin, klsummerlin01@alaska.edu, 907-474-6284

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