UAF to celebrate 93rd commencement
May 7, 2015
907-474-7902
5/7/15
The University of Alaska Fairbanks will honor the accomplishments of the class of 2015 during its 93nd commencement ceremony Sunday, May 10, at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks.
The university's first commencement took place in 1923, when the sole graduate, John Sexton Shanly, received a bachelor’s degree in agriculture. On Sunday, UAF expects to confer approximately 1,459 degrees on 1,353 students. Some students will receive more than one degree. The commencement ceremony includes graduates from summer and fall 2014 and spring 2015.
Several members of the University of Alaska Board of Regents and UA President Patrick Gamble will help UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers confer degrees.
The Stevens Village Dancers will lead the processional. Graduates, faculty members, honorary degree and Meritorious Service Award recipients, and university officials will participate in the ceremony beginning at 1:20 p.m.
UAF alumnus and Academy Award winner Ben Grossmann will give the keynote address. UAF will award three honorary doctoral degrees and two Meritorious Service Awards during the commencement ceremony. This year’s honorary degree recipients are geologist Thomas R. Marshall Jr., Yup'ik elder Gust Bartman, and artist and professor emeritus Ron Senungetuk. The Meritorious Service Award recipients are professor emeritus Tony Gasbarro and former borough assemblywoman Karen Parr.
The student speaker is Lakeidra Chavis, who is receiving a bachelor's degree in psychology. This year’s student award winners are Kristen Whelchel McKay, who is the recipient of the Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award honoring an outstanding graduating senior woman; Mats Eriksson, who is the recipient of the Joel Wiegert Award honoring an outstanding graduating senior man; and Kimberley Strong, who is the recipient of the Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award honoring an outstanding graduating senior nontraditional student
Stephen Jewett, research professor of marine science, will serve as the procession’s grand marshal. Jewett is among 17 retiring staff and faculty members who will be granted emeritus status on Sunday, a title given to those who have served the university with distinction for at least 10 years.
Others receiving emeritus status are: Jane Aspnes, adjunct professor of music; George Guthridge, professor of English and developmental studies; Joseph Hawkins, professor of electrical and computer engineering; Patricia Holloway, professor of horticulture; Edgar Husted, professor of paralegal studies; Glenn Juday, professor of forest ecology; Hsing Kuang "Steve" Lin, professor of hydrometallurgy; Jerry Lipka, professor of education; Antonius Otto, professor of plasma physics; Raymond RaLonde, professor of fisheries; Brian Rogers, chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks; Kenneth Severin, director of the Advanced Instrumentation Laboratory; Stephen Sparrow, professor of agronomy; Alan Springer, research professor of marine science; Dana Thomas, professor of statistics; Wesley Wallace, professor of geology.
Commencement rehearsal for graduates is Saturday, May 9, at 10:30 a.m. at the Carlson Center. There will also be a picnic immediately following rehearsal until 1 p.m. at the Carlson Center for graduates and their families and friends to celebrate with Chancellor Rogers. Graduation mass will take place Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in the Murie Building auditorium. The Carlson Center will open for guest seating at noon on Sunday. The processional will begin at 1:20 p.m. The event will also be available as a webcast. Visit www.uaf.edu/commencement and click on the webcast link.
Graduates, their families and UAF alumni are welcome to attend a reception hosted by the UAF Alumni Association in the Carlson Center’s Arthur Buswell Pioneer Room immediately following Sunday’s commencement ceremony.
ON THE WEB: www.uaf.edu/commencement
Class of 2015 profile
The following statistics provide a snapshot of UAF’s 2015 graduating class. Please be aware that these are only preliminary numbers, current as of May 6, 2014. Final statistics will not be available until after commencement. With that in mind, here’s this year’s class profile:
1,459 awards expected to be conferred on approximately 1,353 students:
• 58 occupational endorsement
• 230 certificates
• 297 associate degrees
• 577 bachelor’s degrees
• 208 master’s degrees
• 40 doctorates
• 44 recommendations for education licensure
• 793 women graduating and 560 men
Diversity breakdown:
• 199 Alaska Native/American Indian
• 32 Asian
• 36 Black
• 70 Hispanic
• 272 Other
• 42 International
• 698 White
• 5 Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Youngest graduate is 16 (occupational endorsement in basic carpentry); youngest baccalaureate graduate is 20 (wildlife biology and conservation); oldest graduate is 67 (associate degree in human services).
Average age: 30
2015 schedule
Following is a schedule of commencement weekend activities. Asterisked times are estimated.
Saturday, May 9
10:30 a.m. – Commencement rehearsal at the Carlson Center
*11:30 p.m. – Graduate picnic at the Carlson Center immediately following rehearsal
Sunday, May 10
10:30 a.m. – Graduation mass at Murie Building Auditorium
Noon – Carlson Center opens for guest seating
12:20 p.m. – Graduates, faculty, administrators and stage party line up at Carlson Center
1:20 p.m. – Academic procession begins
1:30 p.m. – Ceremony begins
*4:30 p.m. – Reception begins in Arthur Buswell Pioneer Room at Carlson Center
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