Winter-time graduates of the University of Wyoming will receive their degrees during UW’s 2018 Winter Commencement ceremony Saturday, Dec. 15, at 10 a.m. in theArena-Auditorium.
512 students will be honored in the ceremony, which features speakers, performances and other special events to mark the occasion.
Vice President of Student Affairs Sean Blackburn said this is the second year that the winter ceremony has taken place in the AA—where the larger spring ceremony takes place.
“We’re really excited about the continued opportunity to do a really good program all together in that facility,” said. “We’re working really hard to make sure the climate is that celebratory ‘man, we made it’ kind of atmosphere.”
Students wishing top reserve their day of achievement for posterity with a dash of cowboy flair will have the opportunity to snap a picture with Pistol Pete as they exit the floor with their diploma. Weather permitting, students will also have the opportunity to pose with UW’s fifth pony mascot, Cowboy Joe himself.
Graduating marketing senior Adriana Ramirez, of Evanston, is the ceremony’s featured student speaker.
“Our student speaker is going to be phenomenal. She’s got a wonderful message about pushing through fear and achieving one’s goals,” Blackburn said.
The second speaker, delivering the commencement address, is Doug Stark. Stark, the recently retired president and CEO of Farm Credit Services of America, is a recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and currently serves on the UW Foundation Board of Directors.
The winter ceremony will debut commencement videos—short, personalized messages from graduating seniors. The video will play (and loop) before the ceremony as friends and family enter the auditorium.
“We’re hoping that’s a fun new addition,” Blackburn said. “We’ve asked student seniors to give shout-outs. I anticipate some will be more serious and some might be a little more goofy—as long as it’s commencement appropriate.”
The ceremony includes all UW students who completed the requirements for their respective degrees and wish to graduate this semester, including master’s and PhD students. Each of UW’s distinct colleges will also be represented in the ceremony, coordinated by Student Affairs.
“We have a commencement committee that includes all the colleges and wonderful staff who do all the pieces of commencement,” Blackburn said. “We’re excited, it should be an awesome day.”
The UW Jazz Ensemble will provide entertainment, as well as graduation staple “Pomp and Circumstance,” during the ceremony—along with a capella group The Happy Jacks.
