Good evening! And what a glorious evening it is!

¡Bienvenidos a todos!

Greetings, to our Regents, distinguished guests, our faculty and staff colleagues, family and friends gathered from far and wide, honorary degree recipients, and most especially to all of our Wildcats who will receive a degree today. It is my great privilege and pleasure to welcome you to the U of A’s 161st Commencement.

I would like to first thank our military-affiliated community members for their service to this nation. Please stand and be recognized.

Graduates, as we begin, let us take a moment to recognize everyone who has supported you throughout your U of A journey and helped you reach this moment tonight. Would all of the parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, families and loved ones please stand so we may express our sincere thanks?  

Thank you, on behalf of the entire U of A community and of everyone graduating today – our students could not have done this without you! This moment is also for you— congratulations.

Our students are our North Star, and as we gather here tonight to celebrate, I hope the pride we all feel only begins to reflect the pride you feel in yourselves. Every bit of applause, every congratulatory word and embrace, every moment of recognition is truly yours. Soak it in and enjoy it. You’ve certainly earned it.

As Wildcats for Life you will, each in your own way, change the world for the better. We have a promise to our students, to prepare you for the future, to help you pursue your goals, and to support you through all stages of your journey.

And we have a promise to the many communities we serve, to be a source of research, scholarship, and creative endeavor that transcends disciplines and helps solve urgent global grand challenges. A promise to engage communities throughout our state and beyond to help meet their needs.

Tonight represents one way that we are delivering on our promise, with the success of all of you, our graduating students. The Commencement ceremony signifies both an ending and a beginning—the culmination of all your hard work to earn your degrees, and the beginning of the next stage of your lives when you will put your knowledge and skills and ambition to work in the world.

So tonight also represents a fulfillment of a promise we have made to you, as well as the beginning of a new promise.

No matter what the next stage for you will be—whether it’s graduate school, a career, or other path—your alma mater is here to support you and to root for your success.

And you, our graduates, are part of the promise we have made to our communities. Wherever you go, whatever you go on to do, you carry the university’s promise to be a force for good.  

Go forth, Class of 2025, to fulfill your promises and to be a true force for good. We know you will make a difference, and we can’t wait to cheer you on as you do.