University of Alaska Southeast Commencement 2025

Date of Press Release: April 28, 2025

(Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan) - On the first weekend in May, the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) will celebrate student achievement and success at commencement activities on its three campuses in Sitka, Ketchikan, and Juneau. UAS expects to award 495 associate, bachelor's, and master’s degrees, as well as certificates, professional licensures, and occupational endorsements. Commencement in Sitka takes place Friday, May 2, Ketchikan on Saturday, May 3, and Juneau’s event is Sunday, May 4. Details for each ceremony follow.

UAS Chancellor Aparna Palmer, Interim Provost Carin Silkaitis, and UA regent Dale Anderson will travel to the campuses to celebrate the success of graduates in the three communities. UA Vice President and Chief Academic Officer Brian Smentkowski will join the Juneau Campus events.  

“We are so proud of the many students who are graduating this week,” noted Chancellor Aparna Palmer. “It takes a lot of courage, determination, and resilience to go to college, whether you are getting an occupational endorsement, a certificate, an Associate’s degree, a Bachelor’s degree, or a Master’s degree. We applaud all of our graduates and we want them to know that they will always have a home at UAS!”

Community Celebration Details

MAY 2 – Sitka

The UAS Sitka Campus ceremony will take place on Friday, May 2, at 7:00 PM at the Harrigan Centennial Hall, and a reception will follow. 

The commencement speaker for Sitka will be Rachel Roy. Roy is the Executive Director of the Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce. Rachel attended the University of Fairbanks, where she completed a Master of Business Administration in General Business in 2009. She also completed a Bachelor's in Business Administration at Sheldon Jackson College in 2008.

Jillian Burchfield will give the Student Reflection. Jillian is a graduate of the Associate of Applied Fisheries Program and was selected as the Student of Distinction for Applied Fisheries. Jillian has served as the UAS Sitka Student Government President for two years, where she focused on creating a more connected and supportive student community.

MAY 3 - Ketchikan

The UAS Ketchikan Campus ceremony is set for Saturday, May 3 at 2:00 PM at the Ted Ferry Civic Center; a reception will follow.

The Ketchikan Campus commencement speaker will be Gillian Edwards, business owner, licensed mariner, and teacher at Fawn Mountain Elementary School.  Edwards completed her captain’s license at the UAS Maritime Training Center in Ketchikan, and completed her Master of Arts in Teaching, Elementary Education, through UAS in 2020.

The Ketchikan Campus student speaker will be Cameo McRoberts. McRoberts is graduating with a Master of Arts in Teaching, having completed her Bachelor of Liberal Arts at UAS previously. McRoberts has worked at Ketchikan High School for several years, and lives in Ketchikan.

MAY 4 - Juneau

The 54th UAS Juneau Campus Commencement ceremony is on Sunday, May 4, at 2:00 PM at the Charles Gamble Jr.-Donald Sperl Joint Use Facility (REC Center). Earlier that morning, the UAS Native & Rural Student Center will host its annual Alaska Native Graduation Celebration at 10:30 AM in the Egan Library on the Auke Lake campus. Shuttle service will be available from the main campus parking area to the REC center. The Juneau Commencement ceremony will be live streamed on YouTube Live from the channel “University of Alaska Southeast.”

Graduating senior Selah Judge will deliver the Student Commencement Address at the Juneau Ceremony. She is graduating with a B.A. in Social Sciences with a primary focus in Anthropology. Judge has served as the student coordinator for Wooch.een and will continue to serve students in her new role as the UAS Rural Admissions Counselor. UAS Alumni Association president, Greg Lange, will also speak to welcome the new graduates into their lives as alumni of the university.  

Juneau community member Sioux Douglas will be presented with a Meritorious Service Award. Meritorious Service Awards recognize community members who have demonstrated significant public, academic, volunteer, philanthropic, cultural or artistic service to the local university or one of its community campuses, or to an Alaskan community.

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