UC Readies for Record-Breaking Commencement

The University of Cincinnati’s spring 2016 Commencement is one for the record books. 

The university confer 6,445 degrees to a record-breaking class of 6,351 students during its spring April 29-30 Commencement ceremonies. Those numbers represent

the largest spring-term graduating class in UC’s history

.

In Commencements of the past, high points included 5,411 graduates in June 1974 and about 5,500 degrees conferred in June 1999. More recently, in the spring 2014 Commencement, 6,272 students applied for graduation, and the class of May 2015 included 6,335 students eligible to graduate.

All ceremonies will be held in Fifth Third Arena and are expected to each last about two to two-and-half hours. The spring Commencement schedule is:

• 10 a.m., Friday, April 29: Doctoral Hooding and Master’s Recognition ceremony
• 3 p.m., Friday, April 29: Undergraduates in the colleges of Nursing, UC Blue Ash, Allied Health Sciences and Engineering and Applied Science
• 9 a.m., Saturday, April 30: Undergraduates in the colleges of Business, CECH and CCM
• 2 p.m., Saturday, April 30: Undergraduate in the colleges of DAAP, UC Clermont and Arts and Sciences

The ceremony will be

streamed online

. Graduates and guests are encouraged to take part in sharing the event on social media using #UCGrad16. UC alums are encouraged to

offer words of advice

for the graduates to be shared online.

CEREMONY DETAILS

• Doors to the arena open 90 minutes prior to the ceremony.
• Each graduating student will be able to invite up to six guests. No tickets will be needed to attend the ceremony. Seating is general admission; first come, first seated.
• The Family Friendly Zone in the Russell C. Myers Alumni Center is an alternative location to view Commencement via simulcast. It is intended especially for individuals with limited mobility, small children or special needs, but is available to everyone.
• A map of campus with details about the ceremony, parking, dining and more is available online.

GETTING TO UC

• Details on how to get to UC.
• Parking is free in all West Campus garages during Commencement ceremonies.

HONORARY DEGREES

UC will bestow four honorary doctorates, its highest award, during the spring Commencement ceremonies.  Recipients are:

• Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters: Jean Wedbush, in recognition of her dedication to the nursing profession and support of UC’s excellence.
• Honorary Doctorate of Commercial Science: Carl H. Lindner III, a renowned philanthropist and Cincinnati businessman, in recognition of distinguished business success, commitment to education, aid to impoverished children and generosity to UC and the community.
• Honorary Doctorate of Commercial Science: S. Craig Lindner, a renowned philanthropist and Cincinnati businessman, in recognition of distinguished business success, support of cutting-edge mental health treatment and research and generosity to UC and the community.
• Honorary Doctorate of Commercial Science: Thomas “Tom” Humes, a real estate developer and homebuilder and former chairman of the UC board of trustees, in recognition of outstanding achievement as a business leader and his long-time devotion to UC.

ABOUT THE GRADUATES

UC’s spring 2016 graduating class of 6,351 students hails from 51 states (including Washington, D.C.) and 78 countries. Nearly a quarter of the graduates will earn master’s degrees, and 295 students, doctorate degrees.

Nearly half of students will receive degrees in the science, technology, engineering, math or medical fields. More than 10 percent of students are graduating from distance learning programs, while nearly 80 percent of graduates have taken at least one distance learning course.    

Women comprise nearly 57 percent of the class. The average age of all graduates is 26, with the youngest overall graduating student 19 and the oldest, 68.  

Numbers of those receiving Latin honors: summa cum laude (grade point average between 3.9 and a perfect 4.0) 225; magna cum laude (GPA between 3.75 and 3.8999) 404; and cum laude (GPA between 3.6 and 3.74999) 475.

RELATED EVENTS

UC's

25th annual Tyehimba Cultural Graduation Celebration

will be held at 7 p.m. April 29 in Fifth Third Arena.The annual Afrocentric graduation ceremony is presented by the

African American Cultural and Resource Center

. Tyehimba, which in Swahili stands for "We Stand as a Nation," is designed to acknowledge the academic achievements of UC graduates.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

UC has given me so many opportunities that I firmly believe I would not have had the chance to experience if I went anywhere else. I’ve made friends that I’ll keep for a lifetime, I’ve gained real world experience through the co-op program, including working abroad in Singapore for an entire summer, and above all, UC has given me the education needed to successful in my career! Stand first and last for old UC!

Chandler Curry, Carl H. Lindner College of Business

Diagnosed with cancer in second year at UC while on first co-op assignment at GE Aviation. Went through two surgeries while on assignment, came back to school in the spring and did physical therapy at nights while taking classes. Now, I've been in remission for three years and am graduating with my bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. Thank you to my friends, family and especially my wife for supporting me throughout my college endeavors.

Andrew Kreger, College of Engineering and Applied Science

I am 60 years old and a mother of four. I thought that college was beyond my reach, but here I am today, graduating with my Master's in Social Work. It is never too late!

Janice Jones, College of Allied Health Sciences

At my previous college, I was told I would not get in to nursing school and that I should consider moving on. I was not ready for college and I was immediately discouraged; I then dropped out and lost hope. My grades were as poor as my attitude. But I knew that would not get me far. It wasn't until I came to UC that I understood I could go for what I truly wanted in life. Now, several years later, after making the Dean's List and with several generous scholarships, I'm graduating as a professional nurse. Take that, world!

Rebecca Burnett, College of Nursing

My time at UC has been great. My years here have been full of fun, change and growth. I will be graduating on April 30 with my BBA in Operations Management. In doing so, I will be the first in my family to graduate college.

Dennis Davis, Carl H. Lindner College of Business

My four years at UC have been the most remarkable years of my life and have shaped me into the person that I have always wanted to be. My advice to incoming bearcats is to come into college and hit the ground running. Get involved in everything that interests you and trust that the UC community has your back and wants you to succeed in whatever your passion may be. Get to know your professors, UC faculty and other students because you never know who will touch your life for the better. And know that it’s okay if things go a different way than you originally planned because after all, everything happens for a reason. 

Brenna McLaughlin, College of Allied Health Sciences

The campus life and activities were outstanding. I met lots of new people who are now friends and learned how to be a better student. I have grown tremendously. I know I am prepared for the next chapter in my life journey thanks to all who taught and supported me at the great University of Cincinnati!

Paul Stephens, College of Education, Criminal Justice & Human Services

My favorite memory from my time at UC was meeting so many diverse people that showed me how big the world really is and how important and amazing this college is. My advice for incoming students is that college may be hard, but it is completely worth it and don't slack off. My parents both got quite sick while I was in college and I almost had to drop out to help support their bills and my brother. The one thing that I'm really proud of is that I will be the first Studer to graduate college with a bachelors degree.

Jessica Studer, McMicken College of Arts and Sciences

I'm a student from China. I felt studying at UC is a such diverse environment. I got my bachelor's and MBA degree at UC. I'm so ecited to be going out to see the new world. All thanks to UC for providing a such useful career service program. I love UC forever!

Zicheng Zhao, Carl H. Lindner College of Business

I am so glad that I was able to get a degree from such a reknowned college. I am so happy to achieve this huge degree that was not only my dream, but also a passion of my life. I am more than happy and feel the luckiest person of my family to call myself a BEARCAT!

Kalpana Pandey, College of Nursing

I will be the first person on both sides of my family to earn a college degree. A challenge that I had to overcome while attending the University of Cincinnati and earning my degree was financial stability. I had to work full-time and pay for school myself. However, I didn't mind it gave me a since of responsibility and a sense of accomplishment once I had paid off the payments for that semester. It was very stressful always trying to come up with the money, but I did it and couldn't be more proud of myself.

Linda Hunt, College of Education, Criminal Justice & Human Services

Attending UC has been a great experience! I joined the UC Marching Band back in fall 2008 and immediately was welcomed by this amazing program! It was great to be able to attend a BCS bowl game my first year (the FedEx Orange Bowl)! I've been part-time for many years, going to school around a full work Schedule, I'm proud to have completed my journey! Also, I've started an entrepreneur business in traveling the world! Thank you, UC!

Major Miller, UC Blue Ash

It took me six years to graduate, two years longer than the "average" student. I changed my major three times. I hit academic probation about three times. I conquered depression, and became aware of my mental health and something clicked. I chose psychology as my major because I wanted to help kids like me succeed in life by providing someone to tell them they can do it and that someone believes in them. I had important family members tell me I wasn't going to graduate. Look at me now.

Courtney Swiat, McMicken College of Arts and Sciences

In May of 2015, I began the master's program for Criminal Justice. I worked through 40-hour work weeks and long nights and weekends of coursework that, at times, frustrated me to the point of tears. Now here I stand, 22 years old, working as a social worker for Child Protective Services and graduating with my master's degree in Criminal Justice. I am #UCStrong.

Reghan Kidd, College of Education, Criminal Justice & Human Services

I come from a family that moved to the U.S. to find a better life for themselves. My dad came here in the 1980s working to support himself and to one day build a family. Years later, he is a successful business man with a family of five. With his help, I have been able to fully pay my tuition monthly without taking out loans. With his help, I will be the first one in my family to graduate college.

Amal Musa, College of Allied Health Sciences