UA awards more than 3000 degrees, certificates at 16 commencement ceremonies
The University of Alaska 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 Alaska 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 Alaska Jim Johnsen at UAF’s 2018 commencement ceremony. “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 Alaska 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 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 field trip. 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 Alaska commencement ceremonies include:
Fort Wainwright military commencement
Monday, April 29
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kuskokwim Campus
Thursday, May 2
University of Alaska Southeast, Sitka
Friday, May 3
University of Alaska Southeast, Ketchikan
Saturday, May 4
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Saturday, May 4
Watch livestream on YouTube
University of Alaska Anchorage
Sunday, May 5
Watch on Facebook Live
University of Alaska Southeast
Sunday, May 5
Watch livestream on YouTube
University of Alaska Anchorage, Prince William Sound College (Valdez)
Wednesday, May 8
University of Alaska Anchorage, Kachemak Bay Campus (Homer)
Wednesday, May 8
University of Alaska Anchorage, Kenai Peninsula College
Thursday, May 9
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Northwest Campus (Nome)
Thursday, May 9
University of Alaska Anchorage, Mat-Su College (Palmer)
Friday, May 10
University of Alaska Anchorage, Kodiak College
Friday, May 10
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Chukchi Campus (Kotzebue)
Friday, May 10
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) Military graduation
Friday, May 10
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bristol Bay Campus (Dillingham)
Saturday, May 11
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Interior Alaska Campus
Fort Yukon Center
Thursday, May 16