Commencement archives

Information about UAF commencement ceremonies is available for these years:

UAF’s celebrated its 101st commencement on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at the Carlson Center. ​

The degree candidates for the class of 2023 are listed by school or college in the PDFs below. All Ph.D. candidates are listed in one PDF.

Download the entire 2023 commencement program.

Information presented in this program is accurate as of 10 a.m. April 25, 2023. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of graduates’ names, degrees and other information. We sincerely regret any errors and omissions.

Student Speaker

Tasina Luta Win (Marsha Jean Thomason-Oss)

The 2023 student speaker will be Tasina Luta Win (Marsha Jean Thomason-Oss) who is graduating with an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. 

Student award recipients

The ϳԹ will honor Kalen Moore-Thomas and Riley von Borstel on May 5 as its outstanding undergraduate degree recipients for 2023.

 
Kalen Moore-Thomas
Photo courtesy of Kalen Moore-Thomas
Kalen Moore-Thomas

Kalen Moore-Thomas

Moore-Thomas will receive the Joel Wiegert Award, which recognizes an outstanding associate degree candidate. Von Borstel will receive the Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award, which recognizes an outstanding bachelor’s degree candidate.

Moore-Thomas earned an Associate of Arts in December and is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in applied management.

“Kalen has worked extremely hard to earn his associate degree and graduate summa cum laude,” wrote Montana Goss, Student Support Services interim associate director, in a nomination letter. “He is a very welcoming and friendly person who, despite hardships growing up, has persevered to become an outstanding member of his community.” 

Moore-Thomas volunteers his time to community organizations, including the Fairbanks Community Food Bank and Santa’s Helpers. He is self-employed and owns an entertainment business, 907 Foam Flingers, which caters activities and events for children, adults, the military and corporate team building.

 
Riley von Borstel
Photo courtesy of Riley von Borstel
Riley von Borstel

Riley von Borstel

Von Borstel will receive bachelor’s degrees in justice, political science and performing arts, with minors in social work, psychology and creative writing.

“Riley is a shining example of a well-rounded, community-minded, multitalented UAF senior who, I have no doubt, will be a leader in Alaska,” wrote Carrie Baker, associate dean of the ϳԹ of Liberal Arts, in a letter of recommendation.

Von Borstel is a student ambassador and a member of the UAF Honors ϳԹ. She served two years as president of the Associated Students of UAF and on numerous boards and committees at UAF. She has been cast in leading roles in three Theatre UAF mainstage productions and completed internships for three organizations during her college career: U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office, the UAF Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities and the Fairbanks Office of Public Advocacy.

 

Honorary degree recipients

Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson and Helen (Dick) MacLean will receive honorary doctorates, which recognize recipients’ lasting contributions to the state and nation, and significant achievements in their respective disciplines.

 
Helen (Dick) MacLean
Courtesy of Helen MacLean
Helen (Dick) MacLean

Helen (Dick) MacLean, Doctor of Education

Helen (Dick) MacLean will receive an honorary Doctor of Education degree. She was born in 1945 in a tent at spring camp and grew up in Lime Village, which is located along the Stony River in Southwest Alaska. Elders trained MacLean in the Dena’ina language, and she was charged as a young girl to be a culture bearer. For decades, MacLean has worked with students of all backgrounds, from preschoolers to college students. She is a master instructor of the Dena’ina language and has a long history of working with doctoral students as a mentor and advisor. She was the primary instructor in two films, “Living Dena-ina” and “Dena’ina Birch Baskets.” She has served as an elder advisor to UAF’s rural development seminars and has been vital in developing Dena’ina curriculum for university courses. She is considered the most skilled living Dena’ina first language speaker and is known for her ability to bridge Western pedagogy and Indigenous ways of knowing.

 
Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson
Courtesy of Richard Peterson
Richard Peterson

Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson, Doctor of Laws 

Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. He is Tlingit from the Kaagwaantaan clan, Eagles Nest house, and a lifelong resident of Southeast Alaska. He grew up in Kasaan, a community on Prince of Wales Island, and became the youngest mayor in Alaska in 1997. He has served as president of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, a federally recognized tribe in Southeast Alaska, since 2014. With a strong background in public service and entrepreneurship, he leads the largest regional tribe in the state with a focus on economic development, tribal sovereignty and community sustainability. His innovative approach to supporting Southeast Alaska communities through the COVID-19 pandemic has been adopted and recognized as a template for best practices in tribal disaster response by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

 

Meritorious Service Awards

Joan Braddock, Carl Benson, Jason Gootee and Ron Inouye will receive Meritorious Service Awards, which recognize service to the university or an Alaska community.

 
Braddock
Courtesy of Joan Braddock
Joan Braddock

Joan Braddock

Microbiologist and UAF alumna Joan Braddock has been a part of the UAF community for more than four decades. She earned her doctorate in oceanography from UAF in 1989 and joined the faculty the following year. Her scientific research focused on bioremediation of environmental contaminants, especially petroleum. Throughout her career, she served as a professor and then dean of the ϳԹ of Natural Science and Mathematics. She retired with emeritus status in 2009. In addition to being a donor and consistent volunteer at the university, Braddock has returned twice to provide temporary leadership to units with vacancies: once as interim dean of the ϳԹ of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences and another as director of the University of Alaska Press.

 
Gootee
Courtesy of Jason Gootee
Jason Gootee

Jason Gootee

Alumnus Jason Gootee has remained an active part of UAF since he graduated in 2005. He is a past president of the UAF Alumni Association Board of Directors, currently chairs the UAF Chancellor’s Board of Advisors and serves as a director on the University of Alaska Foundation Board of Directors. Gootee, who is Moda Health’s vice president for sales and strategic marketing development, lives in Oregon with his wife, Katie, and their four children but returns frequently to Fairbanks. He is an avid hockey fan and, together with his father, established the Gootee Family Hockey Scholarship to support UAF student-athletes.

 
Inouye
UAF photo
Ron Inouye

Ron Inouye

Ron Inouye has served the university for many years as both an employee and an advocate. His university career started in 1970 as an instructor at the Ketchikan Community ϳԹ. Prior to his 17 years at the Rasmuson Library’s Alaska and Polar Regions Collections, he also worked at the UAF Center for Northern Educational Research. At the library, many of his years were dedicated to indexing Alaska’s periodicals. Today, the index is widely used by historians, researchers and students. During his time there, he also served as the interviewer for numerous oral history recordings. Inouye is a philanthropist and volunteer for numerous university and community organizations, serving with the Friends of the University of Alaska Museum of the North and the Rasmuson Library’s Rare Book Endowment Committee.

 
Benson
Courtesy of Carl Benson
Carl Benson

Carl Benson

Professor emeritus Carl Benson has been associated with UAF for more than 60 years. His career as a researcher and professor of geophysics and geology has been marked by significant contributions to snow and ice science in Alaska, Greenland and Antarctica. He taught and mentored some of today’s leading scientists in the field. He worked at the university from 1960 until 1987, including a three-year term as chairman of the Department of Geology and Geophysics, and has continued his research, teaching and service long after retirement. He continues to give guest lectures and attend graduate student thesis and dissertation defenses. He and his wife, Ruth, are donors, volunteers and participants in the UAF community. Outside UAF, he is active in civic issues, sharing information via public testimony and newspaper columns.

Video

 

More videos

Trailblazer Recognition Ceremony

Honorees Recognition Ceremony

Ph.D. Hooding Ceremony

Kuskokwim ϳԹ Ceremony

Photos

See .

UAF celebrated commencement on Saturday, April 30, 2022, at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks. To safely celebrate, we held two short, student-centered ceremonies.

The following schools and colleges were celebrated at 11 a.m.

  • ϳԹ of Engineering and Mines
  • ϳԹ of Natural Science and Mathematics
  • ϳԹ of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
  • ϳԹ of Indigenous Studies
  • Community and Technical ϳԹ
  • UAA nursing students — with CNSM

The following schools and colleges were celebrated at 4 p.m.

  • Division of General Studies/interdisciplinary undergrads
  • ϳԹ of Liberal Arts
  • School of Education
  • ϳԹ of Business and Security Management 

The degree candidates for the class of 2022 are listed by school or college in the PDFs below. All Ph.D. candidates are listed in one PDF.

Download the entire 2022 commencement program.

Information presented in this program is accurate as of 10 a.m. April 13, 2022. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of graduates’ names, degrees and other information. We sincerely regret any errors and omissions.

Student speakers

Student award recipients

  • Logan Nave, Joel Wiegert Award for outstanding associate degree candidate
  • Tricia Minnick, Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award for outstanding bachelor’s degree candidate

Meritorious Service Award recipients

Usibelli Award recipients

Honorary degree recipients

Videos

Morning ceremony

  • ϳԹ of Engineering and Mines
  • ϳԹ of Natural Science and Mathematics
  • ϳԹ of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
  • ϳԹ of Indigenous Studies
  • Community and Technical ϳԹ
  • UAA nursing students — with CNSM

You can also watch the .

 

Afternoon ceremony

  • Division of General Studies/interdisciplinary undergrads
  • ϳԹ of Liberal Arts
  • School of Education
  • ϳԹ of Business and Security Management

You can also watch the .

More videos

Trailblazer Recognition Ceremony
First-Gen Cord Ceremony
Ph.D. Hooding Ceremony
Honorary degree and award recipients

Photos

Posted by on

The ϳԹ honored the Class of 2021 during its 99th commencement at a drive-in ceremony in the Patty Center parking area followed by a virtual ceremony, Saturday, May 1, on Facebook.

The degree candidates for the class of 2021 are listed by school or college in the PDFs below. All Ph.D. candidates are listed in one PDF.

Download the entire 2021 commencement program.

Information presented in these PDFs is accurate as of 9 a.m. April 26, 2021. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of graduates’ names, degrees and other information. We sincerely regret any errors and omissions.

Commencement student speaker

Marion Frances Boswell Award

Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award

Honorary Degree Recipients

Meritorious Service Award Winners

The virtual commencement ceremony was livestreamed online via  and  at 4 p.m. AKT, Saturday, May 1, 2021.

 

More on Facebook:

  • Photos: 
  • Video: 
  • Video: 

The ϳԹ honored the Class of 2020 during its 98th commencement virtual ceremony, Saturday, May 23, on Facebook.

The degree candidates for the class of 2020 are listed by school or college in the PDFs below. All Ph.D. candidates are listed in one PDF.

Download the entire 2020 commencement program.

Information presented in these PDFs is accurate as of 9 a.m. May 19 , 2020. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of graduates’ names, degrees and other information. We sincerely regret any errors and omissions.

Key to abbreviations and honors

Commencement student speaker

Honorary degree recipients

Meritorious Service Award winner

Joel Wiegert Award

Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award

Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award
  • Not awarded

Words from our Community

UAF Commencement 2020 virtual ceremony

Additional ceremonies

Other photos and video

Grad Fair 2020 Facebook album

Grad Bash 2020 Facebook Live video

The ϳԹ honored the Class of 2019 during its 97th commencement ceremony, Saturday, May 4, at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks.

Bristol Bay ϳԹ, Saturday, May 11, 2019

Chukchi ϳԹ, 1 p.m., Friday, May 10, 2019

Interior Alaska ϳԹ

  • Fort Yukon Center, Noon, Thursday, May 16, 2019

Kuskokwim ϳԹ, 1:30 p.m., Thursday, May 2, 2019

Northwest ϳԹ, 7 p.m., Thursday, May 9, 2019

The degree candidates for the class of 2019 are listed by school or college in the PDFs below. All Ph.D. candidates are listed in one PDF.

Download the entire 2019 commencement program (PDF).

 

Information presented in these PDFs is accurate as of 9 a.m. April 25, 2019. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of graduates’ names, degrees and other information. We sincerely regret any errors and omissions.

Commencement student speaker

  • Jessica K. Obermiller

Honorary degree recipients

Meritorious Service Award winner

Read more about the honorary degree recipients and meritorious service award winners in UAF's newsroom.

Joel Wiegert Award

  • Jessica Kot, Class of 2019

Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award

  • Raymundo Lopez, Class of 2019

Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award

  • Michael Bilan, Class of 2019

Read more about the award recipients in UAF's newsroom.

The Fairbanks campus' 96th graduation ceremony was held at the Carlson Center on Saturday, May 5, 2018, at 1:20 p.m.

Bristol Bay ϳԹ, Saturday, May 12, 2018

Chukchi ϳԹ, Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Interior Alaska ϳԹ

  • Tok Center, Friday, May 11, 2018  
  • Fort Yukon Center, Tuesday, May 8, 2018  

Kuskokwim ϳԹ, Thursday, May 3, 2018 

Northwest ϳԹ, Thursday, May 10, 2018 

The degree candidates for the class of 2018 are listed by school or college in the PDFs below. All Ph.D. candidates are listed in one PDF.

Download the entire 2018 commencement program.

Information presented in these PDFs is accurate as of 9 a.m. April 25, 2018. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of graduates’ names, degrees and other information. We sincerely regret any errors and omissions.

Commencement student speaker

  • Aaron T. Cottle, Class of 2018

Honorary degree recipients

  • Jacob Anaġi Adams Sr., honorary doctor of laws
  • Antonia Loretta Afraid of Bear-Cook, honorary doctor of humanities
  • James Milton Varsos, honorary doctor of fine arts

Meritorious Service Award winner

  • Althea St. Martin

Read more about the honorary degree recipients and meritorious service award winners in UAF's newsroom.

Joel Wiegert Award

  • Luke Rogers, Class of 2018

Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award

  • Bobbie McNeley, Class of 2018

Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award

  • Erica Nardella, Class of 2018

Read more about the award recipients in UAF's newsroom.

The Fairbanks campus' 95th graduation ceremony was held at the Carlson Center on Saturday, May 6, 2017, at 1:20 p.m.

Graduation at the community campuses:

Bristol Bay ϳԹ, Saturday, May 13, 2017

Chukchi ϳԹ, Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Interior Alaska ϳԹ

  • Tok Center, Friday, May 12, 2017

Kuskokwim ϳԹ, Friday, May 5, 2017

Northwest ϳԹ, Thursday, May 4, 2017

Degree Candidates

The degree candidates for the class of 2017 are listed by school or college in the PDFs below. All Ph.D. candidates are listed in one PDF.

Download the entire 2017 commencement program.

Information presented in these PDFs is accurate as of 9 a.m. April 28, 2017. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of graduates’ names, degrees and other information. We sincerely regret any errors and omissions.

Key to abbreviations and honors

Honorary Degree Recipients and Speakers

Commencement speaker

  • Charles Bettisworth
  • Karen Perdue

Commencement student speaker

  • Daniel Nero, Class of 2017

Read more about the commencement speakers in UAF's newsroom.

Honorary degree recipients

  • Mark Torre Jorgensen, honorary doctor of science
  • Charles Bettisworth, honorary doctor of laws
  • Karen Perdue, honorary doctor of laws

Meritorious Service Award winner

  • Bill Brophy

Read more about the honorary degree recipients and meritorious service award winners in UAF's newsroom.

Award Recipients

Joel Wiegert Award

  • Gabriel Cartagena, Class of 2017

Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award

  • Emelia Van Wyhe, Class of 2017

Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award

  • Katrina Nunemann, Class of 2017

Read more about the award recipients in UAF's newsroom.

The Fairbanks campus' 94th graduation ceremony was held at the Carlson Center on Sunday, May 8, 2016, at 1:20 p.m.

Graduation at the community campuses will be held at:

Bristol Bay ϳԹ, Saturday, May 14, 2016

Chukchi ϳԹ, Friday, May 6, 2016

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ

  • Tok Center, Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Kuskokwim ϳԹ, Monday, May 2, 2016

Northwest ϳԹ, Thursday, May 5, 2016

The degree candidates for the class of 2016 are listed by school or college in the PDFs below. All Ph.D. candidates are listed in one PDF.

Download the entire 2016 commencement program.

Information presented in these PDFs is accurate as of 9 a.m. April 29, 2016. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of graduates’ names, degrees and other information. We sincerely regret any errors and omissions.

Key to abbreviations and honors

Honorary Degree Recipients and Speakers

Commencement speaker

  • Aaron M. Schutt

Commencement student speaker

  • Joseph J. Slocum, Class of 2016

Read more about the commencement speakers in UAF's newsroom.

Honorary degree recipients

  • Elizabeth Fleagle, honorary doctor of education
  • Trimble Gilbert, honorary doctor of laws
  • Jacqueline Richter-Menge, honorary doctor of science

Meritorious Service Award winners

  • Gary R. Wilken
  • Carolyne Wallace

Read more about the honorary degree recipients and meritorious service award winners in UAF's newsroom.

  • Part 1
  • Part 2

UAF's 93rd graduation ceremony was held at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks on Sunday, May 10, 2015, at 1:20 p.m.

Graduation at the community campuses were held at:

Bristol Bay ϳԹ, Saturday, May 2, 2015

Chukchi ϳԹ, Friday, May 8, 2015

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ

  • Tok Center, Friday, May 15, 2015

Kuskokwim ϳԹ, Friday, May 1, 2015

Northwest ϳԹ, Thursday, May 7, 2015

Degree Candidates

The degree candidates for the class of 2015 will be posted on the day of the event.

The degree candidates for the class of 2015 are listed by school or college in the PDFs below. All Ph.D. candidates are listed in one PDF.

Download the entire 2015 Commencement program.

Information presented in these PDFs is accurate as of 9 a.m. May 7, 2015. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of graduates’ names, degrees and other information. We sincerely regret any errors and omissions.

Key to abbreviations and honors

Honorary degree recipients and speakers

Commencement speaker

  • Ben Grossmann, ϳԹ alumnus and Academy Award winner

Honorary degree recipients

  • Thomas R. Marshall Jr., honorary doctor of science
  • Gust Bartman, honorary doctor of laws
  • Ron Senungetuk, honorary doctor of fine arts

Meritorious Service Award winners

  • Tony Gasbarro
  • Karen Hansen Parr

Read more about the commencement speaker, honorary degree recipients and meritorious service award winners in UAF's newsroom.

UAF's 92nd graduation ceremony was held at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks on Sunday, May 11, 2014.

Graduation at the community campuses were held at:

Bristol Bay ϳԹ, Saturday, May 3, 2014

Chukchi ϳԹ, Friday, May 9, 2014

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ

  • Tok Center, 2 p.m., Friday, May 9, 2014

Kuskokwim ϳԹ, Friday, May 2, 2014

Northwest ϳԹ, 7 p.m., Thursday, May 8, 2014

Degree Candidates

The degree candidates for the class of 2014 are listed by school or college in the PDFs below. All Ph.D. candidates are listed in one PDF.

Download the entire 2014 Commencement program.

Information presented in these PDFs is accurate as of 9 a.m. May 7, 2014. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of graduates’ names, degrees and other information. We sincerely regret any errors and omissions.

Key to abbreviations and honors

Honorary degree recipients and speakers

Commencement speaker

  • Julie Kitka, Alaska Federation of Natives President

Honorary degree recipients

  • Julie Kitka, honorary doctor of laws
  • Robert Nick, honorary doctor of laws
  • Rodney Boertje, honorary doctor of science

Meritorious service award winners

  • Glenn Hackney
  • William Mendenhall Jr.

Read more about the commencement speaker, honorary degree recipients and meritorious service award winners in UAF's newsroom.

UAF's 91st graduation ceremony was held at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks on Sunday, May 12, 2013.

Graduation at the community campuses were held at:

Bristol Bay ϳԹ
May 11 at 2 p.m.

Chukchi ϳԹ
May 10 at 1 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ

  • Tok Center, May 10 at 2 p.m.
  • Yukon Flats Center, May 14 at 2 p.m. in Circle

Kuskokwim ϳԹ
May 4 at 1 p.m.

Northwest ϳԹ
May 9 at 7 p.m.

Degree Candidates

The degree candidates for the class of 2013 are listed by school or college in the PDFs below. All Ph.D. candidates are listed in one PDF.

Download the entire 2013 Commencement program.

Information presented in these PDFs is accurate as of 9 a.m. May 8, 2013. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of graduates’ names, degrees and other information. We sincerely regret any errors and omissions.

Key to abbreviations and honors

Honorary degree recipients and speakers

Commencement speaker

  • Matt Emmons, UAF alumnus and Olympic medalist

Honorary degree recipients

  • John Sackett, honorary doctor of laws
  • George Smith, honorary doctor of letters

Meritorious service award winner

  • John Zarling

Read more about the commencement speaker, honorary degree recipients and meritorious service award winners in UAF's newsroom.

UAF's 90th graduation ceremony was held at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks on Sunday, May 13, 2012.

UAF community campus commencement ceremonies

Bristol Bay ϳԹ, Dillingham
May 5 @ 2 p.m.

Chukchi ϳԹ, Kotzebue
May 8 @ 1 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ

Tok Center
May 11 @ 2 p.m.

Yukon Flats Center, Fort Yukon
May 19 @ 2 p.m

Kuskokwim ϳԹ, Bethel
May 4 @ 1 p.m.

Northwest ϳԹ, Nome
May 10 @ 7 p.m.

Degree candidates

The degree candidates for the class of 2012 are listed by school or college in the PDFs below. All Ph.D. candidates are listed in one PDF.

Download the entire 2012 Commencement program.

Key to abbreviations and honors

Information presented in these PDFs is accurate as of June 4, 2012 (corrected version). Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of graduates’ names, degrees and other information. We sincerely regret any errors and omissions.

Honorary degree recipients and speakers

Commencement speakers

  • National Endowment for the Humanities chairman Jim Leach will give the keynote address.
  • Graduating student Jordan Kathleen Culver will be the student speaker. Culver is a degree candidate for a BA in Justice.

Honorary degree recipients

  • Jim Leach, honorary doctor of laws degree
  • Danny Pierce, honorary doctor of fine arts degree
  • H. Robin Samuelson Jr., honorary doctor of laws degree

Meritorious service award winners

  • Patty Kastelic
  • Bob Uhl
  • Carrie Uhl

Read more about the commencement speaker, honorary degree recipients and meritorious service award winners in UAF's newsroom

Emeriti recipients

Every year the university bestows emeritus status on exceptional faculty and staff members.

The 2012 emeriti recipients are:

UAF's 89th graduation ceremony was held at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks on Sunday, May 15, 2011.

UAF community campus commencement ceremonies

Bristol Bay ϳԹ, Dillingham
May 7 @ 2 p.m.

Chukchi ϳԹ, Kotzebue
May 12 @ 1 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ

Tok Center
May 13 @ 2 p.m.

Yukon Flats Center, Fort Yukon
May 16 @ 1 p.m.

Nenana Center, Tanana
May 17 @ 2 p.m.

Kuskokwim ϳԹ, Bethel
May 6 @ 1 p.m.

Northwest ϳԹ, Nome
May 5 @ 7 p.m.

Degree candidates

The degree candidates for the class of 2011 are listed by school or college in the PDFs below. All Ph.D. candidates are listed in one PDF.

Download the entire 2011 Commencement program.

Key to abbreviations and honors

Information presented in these PDFs is accurate as of 9 a.m., May 10, 2011. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of graduates‚ names, degrees and other information. We sincerely regret any errors and omissions.

Honorary degree recipients and speakers

Commencement speakers

  • Oceanographer, meteorologist and Navy Rear Adm. David William Titley will give the keynote address.
  • Graduating student Sitara Chauhan will be the student speaker. Sitara is a degree candidate for a BS in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry.

Honorary degree recipients

  • David William Titley, honorary doctor of science degree
  • Katie John, honorary doctor of laws degree
  • Banarsi Lal, honorary doctor of laws degree

Read more about the commencement speaker and honorary degree recipients in UAF's newsroom.

Emeriti recipients

Every year the university bestows emeritus status on exceptional faculty and staff members.

The 2011 emeriti recipients are:

UAF's 88th graduation ceremony was held at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks on Sunday, May 16, 2010.

UAF community campus commencement ceremonies

Bristol Bay ϳԹ, Dillingham
May 8 @ 12:30 p.m.

Chukchi ϳԹ, Kotzebue
May 11 @ 4 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ

Yukon-Koyukuk Center, Galena (ceremony to be held in Nulato)
May 13 @ 2 p.m.

Tok Center
May 14 @ 2 p.m.

Yukon Flats Center, Fort Yukon
May 7 @ 1 p.m.

Kuskokwim ϳԹ, Bethel -- May 7 @ 1 p.m.

Northwest ϳԹ, Nome -- May 6 @ 7 p.m.

Degree candidates

The degree candidates for the class of 2010 are listed by school or college in the PDFs below. All Ph.D. candidates are listed in one PDF.

Download the entire 2010 Commencement program.

Key to abbreviations and honors

Information presented in these PDFs is accurate as of 9 a.m., May 11, 2010. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of graduates‚ names, degrees and other information. We sincerely regret any errors and omissions.

Honorary degree recipients and speakers

Commencement speakers

  • ϳԹ alumnus and Rio Tinto CEO Tom Albanese will give the keynote address
  • Graduating student Christina Hardman will be the student speaker. Christina is a degree candidate for a BM in Music Education: K-12.

Honorary degree recipients

  • Tom Albanese, honorary doctor of science degree
  • Kangrilnguq Paul John, honorary doctor of humane letters degree
  • Jerry Brown, honorary doctor of science degree

Read more about the commencement speaker and honorary degree recipients in UAF's newsroom.

Emeriti recipients

Every year the university bestows emeritus status on exceptional faculty and staff members. The 2010 emeriti recipients are:

UAF's 87th graduation ceremony was held at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks on Sunday, May 10, 2009.

UAF community campus commencement ceremonies

Bristol Bay campus, Dillingham
Saturday, May 2 @ 12:30 p.m.

Chukchi campus, Kotzebue
Tuesday, May 12 @ 4 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians campus

Galena
Thursday, May 7 @ 1 p.m.

Fort Yukon
Friday, May 8 @ 1 p.m.

Tok
Friday, May 15 @ 1 p.m.

Kuskokwim campus, Bethel
Friday, May 8 @ 1 p.m.

Northwest ϳԹ, Nome
Thursday, May 7 @ 7 p.m.

Speakers and honorary degree recipients

Honorary degree award recipients

  • Annie Cungauyar Blue
  • Theodore Owen Stagg
  • Michael Anthony Stepovich

Speakers

  • The keynote speaker for commencement 2009 is Victor Fischer.

Read more details on the keynote speaker and honorary degree recipients.

Emeriti recipients

Every year the university bestows emeritus status on exceptional faculty and staff members. The 2009 emeriti recipients are:

UAF's 86th graduation ceremony was held at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks on Sunday, May 11, 2008.

UAF Community ϳԹ 2008 Commencement Ceremonies

Bristol Bay ϳԹ (Dillingham)
May 3, 2 p.m.

Chukchi ϳԹ (Kotzebue)
May 6, 4 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ (Fort Yukon Center)
May 19, 1 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ (McGrath Center)
May 21, 3 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ (Tok Center)
May 16, 2 p.m.

Kuskokwim ϳԹ (Bethel)
May 2, 1 p.m.

Northwest ϳԹ (Nome)
May 8, 7:30 p.m.

Tanana Valley ϳԹ (Fairbanks)
May 11, 1:20 p.m.

Degree candidates

The degree candidates for the class of 2008 are listed here. Graduate names are listed by school or college.

Degree candidate information presented on this website is accurate as of 9 a.m., May 8, 2008. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of graduates' names, degrees and other information. We sincerely regret any errors and omissions.

Speakers and honorary degree recipients

Honorary degree award recipients

  • Larry Aumiller, Honorary Doctor of Science
  • Bill Holm, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
  • John Straley, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
  • Richard Wien, Honorary Doctor of Laws

Speakers

  • The keynote speaker for commencement 2008 is Alaska writer laureate and mystery author John Straley who is also receiving an honorary doctoral degree.

Read more details on the keynote speaker and honorary degree recipients.

Emeriti recipients

Every year the university bestows emeritus status on exceptional faculty and staff members. The 2008 emeriti recipients are:

UAF's 85th graduation ceremony was held at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks on Sunday, May 13, 2007.

Other UAF campus commencement ceremonies

Bristol Bay ϳԹ (Dillingham)
May 5, 2007, 2 p.m.

Chukchi ϳԹ (Kotzebue)
May 7, 2007, 4 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ (Fort Yukon Center)
May 15, 2007, 2 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ (McGrath Center)
May 25, 2007, 3 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ (Tok Center)
May 18, 2007, 2 p.m.

Kuskokwim ϳԹ (Bethel)
May 11, 2007, 1 p.m.

Northwest ϳԹ (Nome)
May 10, 2007, 7:30 p.m.

Honorary degree and service award recipients

  • Catherine Attla, Honorary Doctor of Laws degree
  • The Rev. Edward J. Hartmann, Meritorious Service Award
  • General Henry Hugh Shelton, Honorary Doctor of Laws degree
  • Dr. Norbert Untersteiner, Honorary Doctor of Science degree

Speakers

  • The keynote speaker for commencement 2007 is General Henry Hugh Shelton.
  • This year's student speaker is Michael J. Wilkinson.

For more details on the keynote speaker, honorary degree and service award recipients, see the news release in the UAF newsroom.

Emeriti recipients

Every year the university bestows emeritus status on exceptional faculty members. The 2007 emeriti recipients are:

UAF's 84th graduation ceremony was held at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks on Sunday, May 14, 2006.

Other UAF campus commencement ceremonies

Bristol Bay ϳԹ (Dillingham)
May 6, 2006 at 2 p.m.

Chukchi ϳԹ (Kotzebue)
May 9, 2006 at 6 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ (Fort Yukon Center)
May 17, 2006 at 1 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ (McGrath Center)
May 19, 2006 at 3 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ (Tok Center)
May 12, 2006 at 2 p.m.

Kuskokwim ϳԹ (Bethel)
May 12, 2006 at 1 p.m.

Northwest ϳԹ (Nome)
May 11, 2006 at 7 p.m.

Speakers and honorary degree recipients

The keynote speaker for commencement 2006 was Rutgers University Distinguished Professor and noted biologist Joanna Burger. She is one of two people who received honorary doctoral degrees during UAF’s 84th commencement ceremony. The second honorary degree went to the late Sir Nicholas John Shackleton, an internationally known earth scientist. Honorary degree recipients are chosen both for their lasting contributions to the state and nation and for significant achievements in their respective disciplines.

For more details on Joanna Burger, and Sir Nicholas John Shackleton, see the news release in the UAF newsroom.

This year's student speaker was Finely Bock, Class of 2006.

Meritorious service award recipients

UAF honored Fairbanks Daily News-Miner publisher emeritus Charles Gray with a meritorious service award. Recipients are recognized for outstanding service to the local community.

For more information about Charles Gray, see the news release in the UAF newsroom.

Emeriti recipients

Every year the university bestows emeritus status on exceptional faculty members. The 2006 emeriti recipients were:

UAF's 83rd graduation ceremony was held at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks on Sunday, May 15, 2005. The procession began at 1:20 p.m.

Other UAF ϳԹ Commencement Ceremonies

Bristol Bay ϳԹ (Dillingham)
May 7, 2005 at 2 p.m.

Chukchi ϳԹ (Kotzebue)
May 10, 2005 at 6 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ (Fairbanks)
May 20, 2005 at 2 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ (Fort Yukon Center)
May 19, 2005 at 1 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ (McGrath Center)
May 12, 2005 at 3 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ (Nenana Center)
No commencement

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ (Tok Center)
May 20, 2005 at 2 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ (Yukon-Koyukuk Center)
May 20, 2005 at 7 p.m.

Kuskokwim ϳԹ (Bethel)
May 6, 2005 at 2 p.m.

Northwest ϳԹ (Nome)
May 12, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.

Speakers and Honorary Degree Recipients

The keynote speaker for UAF's 83rd commencement ceremony was cultural anthropologist, writer and radio host Richard Nelson. The 2005 class speaker was petroleum engineering bachelor's degree candidate Phillip Tsunemori.

Honorary degree recipients are selected for significant achievements that bring distinction to their academic or professional careers, and for their lasting contributions to the state and the nation. The 2005 recipients were retired Maj. Gen. Jake Lestenkof, Alaska Constitutional Convention delegate and newspaperman George Sundborg, fisheries and wildlife biologist Jim Rearden, and journalist and author Stanton H. Patty.

Learn more about the keynote speaker and honorary degree recipients.

Emeriti Recipients

Every year the university bestows emeritus status on exceptional professors and faculty members. The 2005 emeriti recipients were:

UAF's 82nd graduation ceremony was held at the Carlson Center on Sunday, May 9, 2004. The procession began at 1:20 p.m.

Other UAF ϳԹ Commencement Ceremonies

Bristol Bay ϳԹ
May 8, 2 p.m.

Chukchi ϳԹ
May 11, 5:30 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ, Fort Yukon Center
May 20, 2 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ, Nenana Center
May 23, 2 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ, Tok Center
May 21, 2 p.m.

Kuskokwim ϳԹ
May 7, 2 p.m.

Northwest ϳԹ
May 13, 7:30 p.m.

Honorary degree recipients are selected for significant achievements that bring distinction to their academic or professional careers, and for their lasting contributions to the state and the nation. The 2004 recipients were former Lt. Gov. Jack Coghill, Alaska Native leader Al Ketzler Sr., and retired U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research hydrologist Austin Post. Former USS Cole officer and 1998 UAF graduate Rick Heckert is the keynote speaker.

Emeriti recipients

Every year the university bestows emeritus status on exceptional professors and faculty members. The following were the 2004 emeriti:

UAF'S 81st graduation ceremony was held on Sunday, May 11, 2003 at the Carlson Center.

Other UAF ϳԹ Commencement Ceremonies

Bristol Bay ϳԹ
May 10, time 2 p.m.

Chukchi ϳԹ
May 13, 5:30 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ

Tok Center
May 23, 2 p.m.

Northwest ϳԹ
May 8, 7:30 p.m.

Kuskokwim ϳԹ
May 9, 2 p.m.

Honorary Degree Recipients and Speakers

Commencement Speaker

Tlingit elder and Native leader Walter A. Soboleff Sr. was the keynote address during the ϳԹ' 81st commencement ceremony Sunday, May 11, 2003.

Honorary degree recipients

Honorary degrees were be awarded during the ceremony to civil engineer Helen Atkinson, airline executive and chemical engineer Ronald F. Cosgrave, ornithologist Johannes Erritzoe and project manager Kenneth "Utuayuk" Toovak.

Emeriti recipients

Every year the university bestows emeritus status on exceptional professors and faculty members. The following are the 2003 emeriti:

UAF'S 80th graduation ceremony was held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday - May 12, 2002 at the Carlson Center.

Other UAF ϳԹ Commencement Ceremonies

Bristol Bay ϳԹ Commencement in Dillingham, May 18 at 2 p.m.

Chukchi ϳԹ Commencement, May 15 at 2 p.m.

Interior-Aleutians ϳԹ Commencement in Tok, May 24 at 2 p.m.

Kuskokwim ϳԹ Commencement, May 10 at 2 p.m.

Northwest ϳԹ Commencement in Nome, May 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Honorary Degree Recipients and Speakers

Commencement Speaker

National Public Radio newscaster Corey Flintoff will be the keynote speaker for the ϳԹ commencement and is one of four honorary degree recipients to be recognized during the ceremony Sunday, May 12, 2002 at 1:30 p.m. in the Carlson Center on Second Ave.

Honorary degree recipients

The honorary degree recipients were selected for significant achievements that have brought distinction to their academic or professional careers, and for their lasting contributions to the state and the nation.

Corey Flintoff was selected to receive a Doctor of Humane Letters.

Athabascan elder Rev. David Salmon will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws.

John Burns will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science.