Nursing graduate Spencer Goodson holds up his diploma case after walking across the commencement stage Saturday morning during a ceremony for graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences and College of Nursing. (Photos by Derik Holtmann)

Commencement marks the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice by students so they can unlock opportunities and position themselves for brighter futures.

Nearly 1,700 spring and summer graduates gathered in front of family members and friends as well as fellow students and faculty and staff members in the University of Missouri–St. Louis community to celebrate the milestone during five ceremonies held Friday and Saturday at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center and the Mark Twain Athletic Center.

Campus photographer Derik Holtmann was on hand to document a day of triumph and joy.

College of Optometry graduate Dr. Tiffany Aldridge-Rhine high-fives and congratulates classmates before the start of Friday’s ceremony. Aldridge-Rhine has started a position at Center for Vision Learning.

Dr. Carly Poskochil, outstanding student in optometry, carries the College of Optometry’s banner during Friday’s commencement ceremony.

Associate Clinical Professor Erin Brooks places a hood over new graduate Dr. Dakota Clark.

Members of the College of Optometry’s Class of 2025 recite the Optometric Oath while on stage at the Touhill.

Supply chain and analytics master’s student Kabita Rokka blows a kiss toward someone in the crowd while processing into the Mark Twain Athletic Center for Friday night’s ceremony celebrating graduates of the College of Business Administration and the UMSL/Washington University Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program.

Kerstin Dolejsi, an undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences, performs the National Anthem on stage Friday evening.

Friends and family members fill the stands at the Mark Twain Athletic Center during Friday evening’s ceremony for the College of Business Administration and the UMSL/Washington University Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program.

Graduate Grant Ebert, the outstanding student in accounting, shakes hands with Chancellor Kristin Sobolik during Saturday’s ceremony.

Accounting graduate Angela Truesdale hugs College of Business Administration Dean Shu Schiller as she walks across the stage Friday evening.

Nursing graduate Miranda Martin gets assistance with her mortarboard before the start of Saturday morning’s commencement ceremony.

Chancellor Kristin Sobolik speaks with James S. McDonnell Foundation President Jason Purnell and his family before the start of Saturday morning’s ceremony for graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Nursing. Purnell delivered the commencement address.

New graduates descend from the stage after accepting diploma cases during Saturday morning’s commencement ceremony.

Family members and friends show their support for one of the graduates during Saturday afternoon’s ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences and School of Social Work.

New graduates move their tassels from one side to the other during Saturday morning’s ceremony for graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences and College of Nursing.

New graduates gathered with their family and friends outside the Mark Twain Athletic Center on Saturday.

Finance and accounting graduate Cynthia Mungai takes a selfie with her mother, Beatrice Mungai, on Friday evening.

Professor Laura Westhoff, chair of the Department of History, takes photos with three new graduates on Saturday afternoon.

MSW graduate Jory Marcinczyk gets a group hug Saturday afternoon after the commencement ceremony for graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences and School of Social Work.

View more UMSL photos by visiting the UMSL Flickr and Instagram accounts.