UAA celebrates 2,270 graduates of the Class of 2011--our largest class ever--on May 1

The University of Alaska Anchorage will celebrate the 2,270 graduates of the Class of 2011 at the annual Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 1 at 3 p.m. at the Sullivan Arena.

A special Graduate Hooding Ceremony will honor graduate students receiving their hoods on Saturday, April 30 at 10 a.m. in the Wendy Williamson Auditorium on UAA's campus.

Commencement is UAA's capstone event celebrating the achievements of its students and the lifetime achievements of extraordinary faculty and community members. UAA will confer degrees on students from the following schools and colleges: Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business and Public Policy, Health and Social Welfare, Education, the Community and Technical College and the School of Engineering. In all, UAA will confer 589 associate degrees; 1,317 bachelor's degrees and post-baccalaureate certificates; 419 master's degrees and graduate certificates; and 85 certificates. The 2,270 graduates of the Class of 2011 will earn a total of 2,410 degrees or certificates.

This year's student speaker is Stacie Meisner. During her time at UAA, Stacie has taken full advantage of the leadership opportunities that UAA has to offer: student-athlete, student worker and a member/leader of various campus clubs, organizations and advisory boards. She was team captain of the Seawolves' volleyball team for the 2009-10 season--the same year the team brought home the GNAC Championship title. For her hard work on the court and in the classroom, she earned a spot on the 2009 GNAC All-Academic Team. Stacie edits Understory, UAA's undergraduate creative arts journal, and is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society. She also works as a reading and writing tutor for the UAA Learning Resource Center. After earning her B.A. in English this spring, Stacie will start the M.A. in English program this fall and will work as the volleyball team's graduate assistant. Read more about Stacie here.

Four prominent leaders will be recognized for their many achievements and contributions in service to Alaska, to learning and to humankind: Edwin "Ed" Crittenden, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters; Sandy Harper, Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts; John Hoover, Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts; and Daniel Inouye, Honorary Doctor of Law.

Many years of outstanding service to the University and its students will be gratefully recognized with the conferring of emeriti status on four faculty members: Dennis Clark, Director Emeritus of History, Mat-Su College; Donald Davis, Professor Emeritus of Geomatics, School of Engineering; and Ronald Haney, Professor Emeritus of Aviation Technology, Community and Technical College; and James Liszka, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences.

UAA will also honor Carla Beam, Michael Carey, Mary Epperson and Richard Neubauer with Meritorious Service Awards at a reception on Saturday, April 30.

GCI will broadcast the Commencement Ceremony on cable Channel 1.