UAF honors record-breaking class at 92nd commencement
May 8, 2014
Marmian Grimes
907-474-7902
5/8/14
The University of Alaska Fairbanks will honor the accomplishments of the class of 2014 during its 92nd commencement ceremony Sunday, May 11, at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks. This year's graduating class is the largest in the university's history and includes the largest number of Alaska Native graduates.
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 1,521 degrees on 1,433 students. Some students will receive more than one degree. The commencement ceremony includes graduates from summer and fall 2013 and spring 2014.
Several members of the University of Alaska Board of Regents and UA President Patrick Gamble will help UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers confer degrees.
The UAF Inu-Yupiaq Student Dance Group 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.
Alaska Federation of Natives President Julie Kitka will give the keynote address and receive an honorary doctorate during the ceremony. UAF will award two additional honorary degrees and two Meritorious Service Awards during the commencement ceremony. In addition to Kitka, this year’s honorary degree recipients are Alaska Native leader Robert Nick and wildlife biologist Rodney Boertje. The Meritorious Service Award recipients are engineering Professor Emeritus William Mendenhall Jr. and former legislator and community volunteer Glenn Hackney.
The student speaker is Ashley Strauch, who is receiving a bachelor's degree in psychology and is also the recipient of the 2014 Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award for outstanding graduating senior woman. UAF will also honor two other winners of this year’s awards for graduating seniors: Troy Bouffard, who received the Joel Wiegert Award, and Raymond "Ramy" Brooks, who received the Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award.
Gerald McBeath, professor of political science, will serve as the procession’s grand marshal. McBeath is among 13 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: Kathleen Butler-Hopkins, professor of music; Michael Davis, associate professor of rural development; Craig Gerlach, professor of cross-cultural studies; Robert Gorman, professor of Extension; John Hopkins, professor of music; John Olson, professor of physics; Gordon Pullar, associate professor of rural development; Kenneth Sassen, professor of atmospheric sciences; Fred Sorensen, professor of Extension; and Terry Whitledge, professor of marine science; Frank Williams, director of the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center; and Miranda Wright, director of the Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development.
Commencement rehearsal for graduates is Saturday, May 10, at 10:30 a.m. at the Carlson Center. There will also be a picnic that day 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 Fairbanks Chapter in the Carlson Center’s Arthur Buswell Pioneer Room immediately following Sunday’s commencement ceremony.
ON THE WEB: www.uaf.edu/commencement
Class of 2014 profile
The following statistics provide a snapshot of UAF’s 2014 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:
1,521 awards expected to be conferred on approximately 1,433 students:
• 84 occupational endorsement
• 208 certificates
• 328 associate degrees
• 577 bachelor’s degrees
• 232 master’s degrees
• 49 doctorates
• 42 recommendations for education licensure
• 1 graduate certificate
• 817 women graduating and 616 men
Diversity breakdown:
• 284 Alaska Native/American Indian
• 37 Asian
• 33 Black
• 58 Hispanic
• 211 Other
• 66 International
• 736 White
• 8 Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Youngest graduate is 17; oldest graduate is 71.
Average age of class: 27
2014 schedule
Following is a schedule of commencement weekend activities. Asterisked times are estimated.
Saturday, May 10
10:30 a.m. – Commencement rehearsal at the Carlson Center
*11:30 – 1 p.m. – Graduate picnic at the Carlson Center immediately following rehearsal
Sunday, May 11
10:30 a.m. – Graduation mass at Murie Building Auditorium
Noon – Carlson Center opens for guest seating
12:20 p.m. – Graduates line up at Carlson Center
12:45 p.m. – Faculty, administrators and stage party line up
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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