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Congratulations to the spring Class of 2022! UAA celebrated the accomplishments of more than 1,000 undergraduate, graduate and certificate students from the Anchorage campus at two in-person ceremonies Sunday, May 1.

UAA grads from the classes of 2020 and 2021 who could not attend in-person commencement ceremonies at the time due to the COVID-19 pandemic were honored at a special reunion commencement Saturday, April 30.

During May, UAA recognizes our Asian American, Pacific Islander, Desi American students, faculty, staff and alumni with events and educational opportunities all month long.

It’s been 35 years since Teresa Novakovich, UAA’s spring 2022 student speaker, first walked onto campus. As she prepares to address this year’s graduating class, she hopes to instill the simple wisdom that it’s never too late.

Nursing science alumnus Tia Hale will serve as student speaker for the spring 2022 graduate degree hooding ceremony before starting her dream job at Southcentral Foundation in inpatient pediatrics this August.

UAA recognizes the Meritorious Service Award and Honorary Degree recipients at its spring commencement ceremonies.

Business administration alumna and 2021 Alumni of Achievement Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson leads Texas A&M University-San Antonio as president. Throughout her career, she has intersected innovation and entrepreneurship with higher education, while also advocating for Latinx and women’s leadership.

Social work alumna and 2021 Alumni Humanitarian Amanda Metivier is the director of the Child Welfare Academy and co-founder of Facing Foster Care in Alaska. Through her advocacy at both organizations, she has led efforts to expand services and support for foster youth across Alaska.

Music performance alumna and 2021 Alumni Emerging Leader Kira Apaachuaq Eckenweiler serves as the mayor of Unalakleet. Her roles in civil service and music are rooted in a desire to support her community. She most recently secured $30 million in funding to fix the water system for her city.

"I love what education does for people and how it can change lives," said the late Arliss Sturgulewski in 2012, whose lifetime of monumental service to Alaska ⁠— as an Anchorage Assembly member, state senator, businesswoman, community leader and friend to UAA ⁠— came to a close on April 7, 2022, at the age of 94.