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

Leona Long

The University of Ӱԭ has 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 Ӱԭ Agricultural 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 Ӱԭ 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 Ӱԭ Airlines 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 Ӱԭ. 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, Ӱԭ 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 Ӱԭ commencement ceremonies include:

 

Fort Wainwright military commencement

Monday, April 29

 

University of Ӱԭ Fairbanks, Kuskokwim Campus

Thursday, May 2

 

University of Ӱԭ Southeast, Sitka 

Friday, May 3

 

University of Ӱԭ Southeast, Ketchikan 

Saturday, May 4

 

University of Ӱԭ Fairbanks

Saturday, May 4
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University of Ӱԭ Anchorage

Sunday, May 5
Watch on

University of Ӱԭ Southeast

Sunday, May 5

Watch livestream on

 

University of Ӱԭ Anchorage, Prince William Sound College (Valdez)

Wednesday, May 8

 

University of Ӱԭ Anchorage, Kachemak Bay Campus (Homer)

Wednesday, May 8

 

University of Ӱԭ Anchorage, Kenai Peninsula College

Thursday, May 9

 

University of Ӱԭ Fairbanks, Northwest Campus (Nome)

Thursday, May 9

 

University of Ӱԭ Anchorage, Mat-Su College (Palmer)

Friday, May 10

 

University of Ӱԭ Anchorage, Kodiak College

Friday, May 10

 

University of Ӱԭ Fairbanks, Chukchi Campus (Kotzebue)

Friday, May 10

 

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) Military graduation

Friday, May 10

 

University of Ӱԭ Fairbanks, Bristol Bay Campus (Dillingham)

Saturday, May 11

 

University of Ӱԭ Fairbanks, Interior Ӱԭ Campus

Fort Yukon Center

Thursday, May 16