The University of Alaska Fairbanks honored the Class of 2023 during its 101st commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 6, at 1 p.m. at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks.
The university’s first commencement took place in 1923, when the sole graduate, John Sexton Shanly, received a bachelor’s degree in agriculture. On Saturday, UAF conferred approximately 1,088 degrees on 1,023 students. Some students received more than one degree. The commencement ceremony included graduates from summer and fall 2022 and spring 2023.
University of Alaska Vice President Paul Layer; UA regents Dennis Michel, Ralph Seekins and Karen Perdue; UAF Provost Anupma Prakash; and UAF Graduate School Director Richard Collins helped UAF Chancellor Daniel White confer degrees. The Troth Yeddha’ Dancers opened the event.
The student speaker was Tasina Luta Win (Marsha Jean Thomason-Oss) who graduated with an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. This year’s outstanding students are Riley von Borstel, recipient of the Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award honoring an outstanding bachelor’s degree candidate, and Kalen Moore-Thomas, recipient of the Joel Wiegert Award honoring an outstanding associate degree candidate.
Eric Heyne, professor of English in the UAF College of Liberal Arts, was the procession’s grand marshal. He is among 18 retiring staff and faculty members who were granted emeritus status, a title given to those who have served the university with distinction for at least 10 years.
Others receiving emeritus status were: Katherine Arndt, associate professor of library science; Sandra Boatwright, proposal and publications office manager; Richard Scott Carr, professor of English; Cecelia Chamberlain, executive officer for finance; William Cox, director of utilities; Kim Davis, Aurora managing editor; Cary de Wit, associate professor of geography; Peter DeCaro, associate professor of communication; Alexandra Fitts, professor of Spanish and vice provost; Phillip Harrington, executive officer; Santanu Khataniar, professor of petroleum engineering; Richard McDonald, professor of computer information systems; Patricia Martinez Meritt, professor of early childhood education; Vikas Sonwalkar, professor of electrical engineering; Michele Stalder, dean of the Community and Technical College; Kimberly Aragon Stewart, instructor of Spanish; and Mark Young, associate professor of applied business and accounting.
This year’s honorary degree recipients are Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson and Helen (Dick) MacLean. Carl Benson, Joan Braddock, Jason Gootee and Ron Inouye received Meritorious Service Awards.
Honorary degree and Meritorious Service Award recipients, emeriti, the student speaker and student award winners were celebrated at a ceremony on Friday, May 5, at 5 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall on the Troth Yeddha’ Campus in Fairbanks. UAF also hosted a Ph.D. hooding ceremony on May 5 at 11 a.m. in the Davis Concert Hall.
On Saturday, the Carlson Center was open for guest seating at noon, and the processional began at 1 p.m. The event was live streamed on the UAF YouTube channel and the UAF Facebook page.
Graduates, their families and UAF alumni were welcome to attend a reception hosted by the UAF Alumni Association at the Carlson Center Pioneer Room immediately following the ceremony.
Class of 2023 profile
The following provides a snapshot of the UAF 2023 graduating class. These are preliminary numbers, current as of April 24, 2023. Final statistics will not be available until early September.
1,088 awards conferred on approximately 1,023 students:
76 occupational endorsements
133 certificates
190 associate degrees
435 bachelor’s degrees
176 master’s degrees
32 doctorates
47 recommendations for education licensure
Diversity breakdown:
610 women, 393 men, 20 specified other genders
157 Alaska Native/American Indian
41 Asian American
38 Black or African American
71 Hispanic or Latino
590 Caucasian or white
12 Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
89 other or unknown
24 international
Average age: 33; median age: 30
