The University of Missouri–St. Louis campus community celebrated nearly 1,000 summer and fall graduates earning degrees during three commencement ceremonies on Saturday. The university began commencement with a ceremony for the College of Business Administration and the College of Nursing Saturday morning at the Mark Twain Athletic Center.

The Colleges of Arts and Sciences and Education, the UMSL/Washington University Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program and the School of Social Work also held ceremonies at the Mark Twain Athletic Center.

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

Student marshal Jeannette Memmer leads the procession for the College of Arts and Sciences. Memmer graduated with bachelor’s degrees in history and French. During her time at UMSL, Memmer was thoroughly involved on campus, serving as a French tutor, intern with the Department of History and president of Phi Alpha Theta. She plans to continue her education in an early modern European history PhD program.

Riisa Rawlins, the interim CEO of the St. Louis Regional Health Commission – and herself a doctoral student in political science at UMSL – delivered the commencement address at Saturday’s ceremony for graduates of the College of Business Administration and College of Nursing. “As graduates of the region’s premier public institution,” Rawlins told those in attendance, “you will join the ranks of changemakers throughout our region and beyond. As you join – or because we’re UMSL students likely deepen your relationship and your roles within – the business and healthcare sectors of our region, you are vital to the fabric of our region’s success. If America runs on Dunkin’, St. Louis runs on UMSL.”

Chancellor Kristin Sobolik (second from left) and Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Steven J. Berberich (right) present alum Wayne S. DeVeydt with an honorary degree during the commencement ceremony for the College of Business Administration as Interim Dean Michael Elliott (at left) looks on.

Provost Berberich (left) talks with Jacob Allen, student marshal and outstanding student of mechanical engineering, before the the UMSL/Washington University Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program ceremony.

Mariel Alanis, who earned her master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice, walks across the stage, shaking hands with Provost Berberich before greeting Chancellor Sobolik during the ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences.

Benard Diggs shakes hands with Dean Ann Taylor during the College of Education ceremony. Diggs earned a PhD in education after being a longtime UMSL employee. He began working at the university as a custodian in 1973, and over the course of his career, he climbed the ranks to become the director of the Millennium Student Center. His doctoral research focused on the unintended consequences of the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision.

A graduate excitedly looks to the crowd in the Mark Twain Athletic Center.

One graduate has fun in the crowd during the College of Arts and Sciences ceremony.

Graduates celebrate after receiving their diplomas.

A graduate’s cap contains a message of gratitude to her parents.

After Saturday’s ceremonies, friends and family celebrate with their loved ones outside of the Mark Twain Athletic Center.

Despite overcast and occasionally rainy weather, spirits were high on Saturday afternoon.

A graduate poses for photos after the ceremony.

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