The University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) Class of 2023 has a lot to celebrate! On Sunday, May 21, nearly 1,100 graduates and 6,000 guests will convene to celebrate the entire graduating class of 10,578 during a commencement ceremony at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. It is an incredibly exciting time for graduates and the University, and the entire UAGC community is ready to honor the Spring Class of 2023 in style.
University leadership is thrilled to provide graduates with a memorable experience and has been preparing for this momentous occasion for several months.
“Commencement is an exciting time for our graduates and their families alike, and we are thrilled to be hosting an exciting weekend of celebrations to recognize the class of 2023!” says Ashley Kirwan, Director of Student Affairs for UAGC. “Our grads are not the only ones who eagerly anticipate commencement weekend. Our staff of volunteers from across the University look forward to being a part of commencement and celebrating our amazing students and all of their hard work and accomplishments!”
The UAGC Spring 2023 graduates have endured a lot to make it to the finish line, and this ceremony marks your amazing journey to finishing your college degree.
“I admire and am constantly inspired by our students who work hard to achieve their goals and do whatever it takes to be successful,” said Katie Scheie, UAGC Chief Operating Officer. “You’ve excelled with your determination, focus, and hard work to complete your degree – qualities that will continue to help you achieve great things in life. We can’t wait to celebrate you!”
To help you stay organized, the University created a Commencement Checklist that serves as a guideline to help you prepare for your big day and ensures you can enjoy a stress-free celebration. Read on for details about the UAGC Spring 2023 Commencement.
UAGC Spring 2023 Commencement Schedule
To help make this an event to remember, there are a number of “experiences” planned for the weekend-long celebration. Be sure to RSVP to the Facebook event pages for the Saturday and Sunday events to stay in-the-know leading up to the ceremony. Then, continue reading for more details about commencement.
Graduation Celebration
Date: Saturday, May 20
Time: 9 a.m. MST (Local Arizona Time)
Location: Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel and Spa, 9495 W. Coyotes Blvd, Glendale, AZ 85305
Enjoy a day with your fellow UAGC graduates! This free, fun-filled day will be packed with plenty to do for the entire family. Attendance is optional for these events, but why miss all the fun? This will be a great way to see your peers and instructors in person and celebrate your major milestone.
Highlights of the day include:
- Career fair
- Honor societies meet and greet
- Faculty meet and greet
- Hooding ceremony
- Photos with the President
- Graduation cap decorating
- Kids’ fun zone
- Military appreciation event
- More to come!
Look for details in the official Commencement Newsletter coming your way soon.
Commencement Ceremony
Date: Sunday, May 21
Time: 8 a.m. MST
Location: Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W Maryland Ave, Glendale, AZ 85305
Let the ceremony begin! Congratulations to the UAGC Spring 2023 graduating class. We are so proud of your accomplishments and can’t wait to see what you achieve next. On Sunday, May 21, we will recognize the completion of your degree program in a commencement ceremony, marking the end of one journey, and the beginning of another.
Check-in begins at 8 a.m. MST and the procession/ceremony begins at 10 a.m. MST with a conclusion at 2 p.m. Here are some additional highlights and important things to know about your big day:
Anthem Singer – Hear the winner of the UAGC National Anthem contest (a fellow alum) sing at the opening of the commencement.
Special UAGC Dignitaries – UAGC President Paul Pastorek, members of the UAGC Board of Directors, and other University leaders will speak and recognize graduates from the Honors programs, CHAMPS Peer Mentoring, and the Doctoral programs, then present the Class of 2023 and confer the degrees.
Keynote speech – Dr. Calvin Mackie, award-winning mentor, inventor, author, former engineering professor, speaker, entrepreneur, and founder of STEM NOLA.
StageClips – All graduates in attendance will receive a short personal recognition StageClip video that can be viewed, downloaded, and shared to social media after the ceremony! Links from StageClip will come after the ceremony that will allow you to personalize your video by uploading a photo, adding a short, written message (150 characters or less, including spaces), and/or a video of up to 10 seconds. The name in the program and for StageClip is populated from your student record. Please review the formatting of your name now. If a change/edit is required, email [email protected].
Safety policies – Backpacks, purses, fanny packs, seat cushions, laptop bags and camera bags are prohibited at Desert Diamond Arena. The only approved bags are a crossbody, clutch, wristlet or wallet meeting the dimensions of 4.5” x 6.5”.
Parking – Parking will be a $10 dollar credit card charge on the day of the event if you plan on parking at the venue rather than walk from your hotel.
The UAGC 2023 Commencement ceremony can be viewed here.
Don’t forget to take a moment to celebrate yourself. Graduating from college is one of life’s most significant achievements, placing you firmly on the path to becoming a lifelong learner. Share your accomplishments with the hashtag #UAGCgrad23 and enjoy your success!
Visit uagc.edu/student-experience/graduation for details on traveling to Glendale, for local hotel information, and much more. Wondering what to do or where to eat while you are in Glendale for the weekend? Check out this visitor guide, which has everything you need to know to make your stay in Glendale a great one. If you have any questions or concerns, email [email protected].
Congratulations, UAGC graduates! We’ll see you in Glendale in May!
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