VIDEO: Our spring graduates tell us where they're going and how UA helped them get there.
The University of Akron is proud to celebrate with more than 2,600 graduates during its 2019 Spring Commencement Ceremonies. The University will host six separate ceremonies between May 10-12 at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, representing UA’s wide range of degree programs.
Led by Interim President Dr. John Green, diplomas will be awarded to 2,662 individuals hailing from 34 states and 31 countries. Degrees to be awarded include 52 doctorate degrees, 103 Juris Doctor degrees, 450 master’s degrees, 1,785 bachelor’s degrees and 271 associate degrees.
Friday, May 10, 6 p.m.
The Friday evening ceremony includes graduates from the LeBron James Family Foundation College of Education and the College of Business Administration. Sara Caris (Grand Rapids, Ohio), graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources Management, will present the student speech.
Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m.
The first ceremony on Saturday features student speaker Tyler Hicks, an Akron native who is graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. The ceremony includes candidates from the following areas:
- College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering;
- College of Health Professions (graduate degrees);
- Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences (natural sciences division and Interdisciplinary studies); and
- Wayne College.
The event will also include a U.S. Army ROTC Cadet Commissioning ceremony featuring words from retired Army Lt. Gen. Patricia McQuistion. A UA alumna who earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology, McQuistion has served our country from stations in Hawaii, Germany, Virginia, Kansas, Texas, Egypt, Pennsylvania and Kuwait.
Saturday, May 11, 2 p.m.
Rachael Steer (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) will be the featured student speaker at the 2 p.m. ceremony. Steer is graduating summa cum laude with an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Political Science and Economics. This ceremony will welcome graduates from the College of Engineering (graduate degrees) and Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences (social sciences, humanities and fine arts).
Saturday, May 11, 6 p.m.
Those earning bachelor’s degrees from the College of Engineering will be featured at the 6 p.m. ceremony. Student speaker will be Taylor Verba (Parma, Ohio) who is graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering – Biomechanics Track.
Sunday, May 12, 10 a.m.
The College of Health Professions (undergraduate) will celebrate its graduates on Sunday morning. Alaina Gent (Uniontown, Ohio) will be the featured student speaker. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, Pre-Physical Therapy. The very next day, she’ll start graduate school to realize her dream of becoming a physician assistant.
Sunday, May 12, 2 p.m.
The final commencement ceremony will feature graduates of the College of Applied Science and Technology. Claudia Judele (Brunswick, Ohio), who is graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management and Homeland Security, will be the featured student speaker.
Tickets are required for entry to each ceremony. Each event will be followed by GradFest, a celebration for the graduates, their families and friends, on the E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall plaza. GradFest features music, refreshments and photo ops with Zippy, the UA mascot.
More information on UA commencement activities is available online.
Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-972-6476 or cboyd @uakron.edu.