UCCS Celebrates Spring Class Of 2025 -05/16/25
UCCS conferred more than 1,600 degrees to students from the Class of 2025 on Friday, May 16, with just over 1,100 graduates in attendance for the Spring 2025 Commencement ceremonies at the Broadmoor World Arena.
Graduates this semester earned 24 doctoral degrees, 366 master’s degrees, 13 associate degrees and 1,245 bachelor’s degrees.
Commencement Marshal Ashley Lawless, Assistant Teaching Professor in the College of Education, and this morning’s Commencement Marshal; Commencement Marshal Monica Furey, Professor in the College of Public Service, and this afternoon’s Commencement Marshal; Jennifer Sobanet, Chancellor of UCCS; and the recipients of the 2025 Student Achievement Awards, Aiyanna Quinones and Madeline Metzger, addressed graduates during the day’s ceremonies.
"Today's communities, workforce, and educational landscape requires teachers, leaders, and counselors who embrace equity, inquiry, and innovation - the very themes that have defined your education here," said Marshal Lawless. "As you leave here today, I want you to carry with you this fundamental truth: education is an act of hope. Every time you enter a classroom, lead a school, serve your community, or counsel a student, you declare your belief that tomorrow can be better than today. You are affirming that growth is possible, that learning is transformative, and that every person deserves the opportunity to discover their glimmering potential. Your UCCS education has prepared you not just with knowledge and skills, but with a vision and heart-set of what education and community can and should be - equitable, inquiry-based, and innovative. Now, it's your turn to bring that vision and heart-set to life."
Chancellor Sobanet then took the stage.
"Commencement is a joyful time, and it is also a time for us to reflect – on the work we have already accomplished, and the work that is yet to be done," Chancellor Sobanet said in her address. "The challenges of the world are ever-present. In response, we must commit to being outstanding citizens who stand up for what is right and good. Let us commit to compassion, patience, and respect. Let us be willing to serve – to give our time and talent to the communities in which we live. Let us engage in respectful discourse that protects the right of all people to express themselves freely, leading to new knowledge and innovative ideas. As we respect each other’s differences, let us also seek out what unites us – using both to advance our community, our nation, and the world."
"As you graduate today, you will go back out into the world – using the work of your hands and your hearts to make it a better place,” she concluded.
During the morning ceremony Aiyanna Quinones, graduating with a degree in sociology and minor in women's and ethnic studies, emphasized the importance of being passionate and caring.
"A lesson I learned over my undergrad was the importance of passion, the importance of chalance," Aiyanna said. "Let me introduce 'chalance.' Chalance is not officially a word in the English language, but it should be. As the opposite of nonchalance, chalance is deeply invested, caring, passionate, demanding, and decidedly uncasual. Nonchalance is apathetic, and it is pervasive."
"Chalance dances the line between being sunkissed and being sunburnt - it is not always without consequence, but does that possibility mean that it isn't worth a try?" she continued. "At least you still saw the sun. Education has given me the tools to articulate my chalance, to direct it meaningfully toward what matters most. The professors who saw potential in me, the classmates who challenged me, the texts that expanded my worldview - all played crucial roles in transforming my argumentative nature into academic discourse, my oddities into unique perspectives, and my intense feelings into compassionate understanding."
In the afternoon ceremony, Commencement Marshal Monica Furey addressed the graduates.
"What a joy and privilege it is to stand before you today and celebrate the culmination of your hard work, dedication, and perseverance," she said. "As you go forward, carry this truth with you: education is an act of hope. Every time you teach, lead, design, build, support, or serve—you are declaring that tomorrow can be better than today. You are affirming the dignity, potential, and promise in others and in yourselves. We are so proud of you. Now go make your mark."
Madeline Metzger, graduating with a degree in nursing, then spoke on finding a support system and advocating for oneself.
"Every opportunity I have had at UCCS is because of someone else telling me about that opportunity or supporting me as a candidate for it," said Madeline. "Therefore, make friends, talk to trusted people about your goals and aspirations, and they just may have the solution to your problem."
"Something I tell all students that I have mentored is that the worst thing they can say is no," she continued. "When you’re looking for those opportunities or facing those challenges, do not be afraid to reach out to whoever whenever. Lastly, and the most important piece of advice I can give, is to advocate for yourself, because if you don’t, no one else will. That does not mean doing everything by yourself or that other people won’t support you. It means recognizing that you are your own first and last line of defense. Be kind, be confident, and when needed - be loud."
The ceremony included the recognition of eleven Golden Graduates, members of the Class of 1975 who celebrated 50 years since their own UCCS graduation.
Also celebrated were the students who received their Associate of General Studies degree after the University of Colorado Board of Regents approved the retroactive degree in April 2023. The degree is for those students who started at UCCS and earned at least 70 credits over the last 10 years but didn’t complete their degree. It provides a path for students to receive a credential for work they have completed and improves these students’ outcomes for employment.
The university also posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service award to Kent Fortune on behalf of Stephannie Finley Fortune.
"This year, it is my honor to posthumously confer the Distinguished Service Award to Stephannie Finley Fortune," said Regent Spiegel. "And it could not be more deserved. The Distinguished Service award is given in recognition of achievements and contributions particularly associated with the state or nation. Stephanie dedicated her life to serving Colorado and the nation with passion. Her impact is felt throughout UCCS, public policy, state and federal government, and community and business development."
To close the ceremonies, our regents delivered the traditional Norlin Charge to graduates. Regent Montera read in the morning and Regent Hood read in the afternoon. The charge dates back to CU Boulder president George Norlin’s delivery of the June 1935 Commencement ceremony. The words of the Norlin Charge are now read to the graduating class each year at each of the four CU campuses, as a reminder that graduates will carry their experiences at the university with them forever.
“Commencement does not mean, as many wrongly think, the breaking of ties and the beginning of life apart,” reads the charge. “Rather, it marks your initiation in the fullest sense into the fellowship of the university, as bearers of her torch, as centers of her influence, as promoters of her spirit.”
“The university consists of all who come into and go forth from her halls, who are touched by her influence and who carry on her spirit. Wherever you go, the university goes with you. Wherever you are at work, there is the university at work.”
