Spring 2023 Commencement: A joyous weekend

by | May 15, 2023

Campus photographer Derik Holtmann captured some of the joyful scenes from commencement weekend as UMSL celebrated more than 1,700 spring and summer graduates.
Tiffany Lee and Chanell Nguyen, two asian women in black cap and gowns, pop a bottle of bubbly

UMSL College of Optometry graduates Tiffany Lee and Chanell Nguyen pop a bottle of bubbly after receiving their doctoral degrees in Optometry during a ceremony Friday at the Blanch M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.

The University of Missouri–St. Louis campus community celebrated more than 1,700 spring and summer graduates earning degrees during six commencement ceremonies over the weekend. The university began commencement weekend with a with a ceremony for the College of Optometry Friday at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.

The Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Education and Nursing; the School of Social Work; the Succeed Certificate Program and the UMSL/Washington University Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program also held ceremonies throughout this past weekend at the Mark Twain Athletic Center.

UMSL campus photographer Derik Holtmann captured a few of the joyous scenes.

 

College of Optometry graduate Gabriella Watson, Black woman in black cap and gown, receives her doctoral hood

College of Optometry graduate Gabriella Watson receives her doctoral hood during the ceremony at the Touhill.

 

Optometry professor, white man in black cap and gown and white trim, fist bumps student, white man in black cap and gown.

Professor Emeritus Ed Bennett fist bumps graduates before the ceremony for the new doctors of optometry.

 

Dean of the Pierre Laclede Honors College Edward Munn Sanchez (left), Chancellor Kristin Sobolik (second from left) and Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Steven J. Berberich (right) present alumni Ilene Novack and Stephen Novack (all in black cap and gowns) with honorary degrees on stage

Dean of the Pierre Laclede Honors College Edward Munn Sanchez (left), Chancellor Kristin Sobolik (second from left) and Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Steven J. Berberich (right) present alumni Ilene and Stephen Novack with honorary degrees during a commencement ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences on Saturday.

 

A graduate's cap reads "getting this degree one way or anova" as she prepares to walk to the platform.

A graduate’s cap reads “getting this degree one way or anova” as she prepares to walk to the platform.

 

A student, black woman in black cap and gown, makes a peace sign to her family in the crowd after receiving her diploma.

A student makes a peace sign to her family in the crowd after receiving her diploma.

 

Graduates in black cap and gowns sit while one, white woman with dark hair, holds up her diploma

A student holds up her diploma during the ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences.


Latino man with glasses hugs UMSL graduate in black cap and gown

After the College of Arts and Sciences ceremonies, friends and family celebrate with their loved ones outside of the Mark Twain Athletic Center.

 

UMSL graduate, white man in black cap and gown, stands while white woman in pink and blue dress adjusts his cap

A slight drizzle didn’t stop friends and family from celebrating on Saturday afternoon.

 

Drew Ryherd, white man with long dark hair in black cap and gown, and Sydney Stark, white woman in flower crown and black gown, pose for photos

Graduates Drew Ryherd and Sydney Stark pose for photos after their commencement ceremony.

 

Indian man poses for a photo with his family with a sign in the background that says Congratulations graduates!

A graduate poses for a photo with his family Saturday afternoon.

 

Friends and family, black women, cover a graduate, black woman in black cap and gown, with flowers and balloons. 

Friends and family cover a graduate with flowers and balloons.

View more images from commencement on Flickr or UMSL’s Instagram page.

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