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A lot has changed since the first commencement in Anchorage, when Vincent Earl Demarest was the only member of the class of 1956. With over 2,400 students receiving degrees in 2014, commencement has outgrown the Sullivan Arena and will move back to campus this December at the new Alaska Airlines Center. Take a final look at the Sully with Mel Kalkowski, commencement's long-time stage manager and one of the many vital players behind the scenes.

Mike Ulroan combined his traditional upbringing stressing self-reliance with the academic support from UAA's ANSEP program to become the first engineer from the village of Chevak. It took eight years, but he finished. "It's not a race," his mentor told him.

A glass-skinned structure is rising at UAA's Mat-Su College, a $20-million gathering place where college and community can merge and grow new opportunities for artists and educators.

UAA Management Information Systems students struck gold at the recent Association of Information Technology Professionals' National Collegiate Conference in Atlanta, for database design and for a web project that's helping an Anchorage nonprofit provide gym shoes to needy kids across Alaska.

Finished in four? Check. Stellar GPA? Check. Ready to take a break? You bet. First generation college graduate Jasmine Woodland is only a little sad to leave behind her packed schedule as an Honors College student, a 49th State Fellow and Student Activities employee. It's time to read for fun again!

UAA is bringing commencement back to campus with the opening of the Alaska Airlines Center this fall. Beginning December 2014, there will be two commencement ceremonies per academic year.

Ten master’s students and five outstanding undergraduates, the 2014-2015 UAA Leadership Fellows, will be matched with community business and industry leaders for this year-long, one-to-one mentorship program.

On May 4, UAA will award honorary doctorates to Dr. Alex Hills, a telecommunications pioneer, and William and Karen Workman, noted anthropologists and archaeologists in Alaska. Marie Meade will also be honored with a Meritorious Service Award.

Even though the school year comes to an end at commencement, there's still time to squeeze in one last history lesson. Learn about the medieval traditions that have defined commencement since the Middle Ages and hear advice from graduates who've been there.

Kenya is 8,290 miles away from Alaska, yet it still sustains and drives the record-shattering runner named last week as UAA's Bill MacKay Athlete of the Year. Meet Micah Chelimo.