As the last of the graduates made their way across the stage, the cheers of families, friends and faculty echoed throughout the arena.
The graduates moved their tassels from the right to left, signifying the transition into their new journey as college graduates.
After they filed out of the area, the concords were filled with people to congratulate them.
Veronica Leafblad, who graduated with a degree in theatre and design tech, said the commencement ceremony was a good way to end their academic career.
“It was very enjoyable to see the community,” Leafblad said. “I started during COVID, so this was a good way to end it on a high note.”
For Kaden Kearby, a graduate with a bachelor’s in graphic design, the moment was a time to be grateful for those who helped him on this journey.
“I’m thankful to all the teachers that helped me get my degree and I’m ready to be done,” Kearby said. “Thanks to all my friends who helped me along the way.”
Fine arts graduate Kristian Alvarado said the best thing they got from their time at Columbia was the connections he built throughout his academic journey.
“I met a lot of great people and was able to be inspired,” Alvarado said.
Carmen Ordonez, who graduated with a photography degree, was happy to have made it here despite the challenges.
“I’m Honduran, and I feel very excited and happy to have gotten this degree,” Ordonez said. “I’m so proud of myself and everyone else in the Class of 2025.”
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Richard Walker, associate professor in the School of Theatre and Dance, welcomed students and families as the MC, a role he’s played in past ceremonies.
“We are here to celebrate the creativity, hard work and the accomplishments of the students who have completed their degree requirements,” Walker told the audience.
The student speaker for this ceremony, Abby Rankin, who will receive a bachelor’s in comedy writing and performance, offered reassurance to the graduating class.
“We came to this school for a reason — whatever that reason was, we made it,” Rankin said in the speech. “And now we’re commencing to the next stage of our lives together. I hope we leave today knowing in our souls that each and every one of our works deserves to be seen, cherished, and remembered.”
The second honorary degree recipient was Joseph Sikora, who graduated in 1998 with a degree in theatre.
In his speech, he spoke of the importance of putting in the effort in order to achieve success.
“Just like a tree doesn’t grow as only a trunk, when you have learned the art of the pivot in your roots in your foundation that allows you to grow, not only straight up, but also in ways that you never thought possible,” he said.
The mace in the second ceremony was carried by Luying Chen, associate professor in the School of Communication and Culture, who sat on the stage with administrators, school leaders and faculty who were bestowed the rank of emeritus or emerita. Chen also was bestowed the rank of emerita.
At the earlier ceremony, Jeff Spitz, an associate professor in the School of Film and Television, was one of the recipients. He was laid off in January, along with 22 other full-time faculty. Not all of them attended graduation. Spitz later shared a story on Instagram with an image of Senior Vice President and Provost Marcella David bestowing the new rank on him. “To be clear, I did not retire,” he wrote, echoing a post he also shared after the first graduation. “Columbia eliminated Documentary and my position.”
In the post he added, “It was a great run. Friends I aint done.”
Additional reporting by Lilly Sundsbak and Uriel Reyes
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Students filed into the arena for the second ceremony of the day as the college’s jazz ensemble played music until all the future graduates took their seats.
This ceremony began at 4:30 p.m. for the Schools of Theatre and Dance, Audio and Music, Design and Visual Arts
Nathan Joseph Brieva, a photography major, said he took a hiatus during the pandemic because he didn’t want to take online classes. He returned to finish his degree.
“I was fortunate to find jobs, find a reliance so I’m hoping to keep building my network and keep representing myself.”
Comedy writing and performance major Hezekiah Duncan said that while he felt excited to finally graduate, he also was exhausted. He has a job and needs to be at work the day after commencement.
“It’s sort of just like it’s a momentous occasion, but it’s also when you know you have the rest of our life after it’s a very happy blip on the radar,” Duncan said.
Jamil Barrios, a graphic design major, said that the best thing he got from his time at Columbia was the experience.
“There were some rough patches, but it helped me be a better person,” Barrios said.
As the first member of their family to earn a master’s degree, photography major Sean Grove said it felt like a big deal.
“I am actually applying for law school and artist residencies because I can do both,” Grove said, talking about their plans after receiving their degree tonight.
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The first of Columbia’s 1,094 graduates emerged into the sunshine outside the Credit Union 1 Arena after receiving their diplomas to cheers from the packed morning commencement ceremony, which lasted three hours.
Family and friends greeted them with bouquets of flowers, hugs and jokes about finally graduating.
Judah Ambrose received his bachelor’s in ASL-English Interpretation, one of the majors that the college will phase out by 2028. It could become a minor.
Ambrose said that after being at the college for “a long four years,” officially being a graduate feels “unreal.”
“It means a lot to me, and specifically to the Deaf community as well” to be a part of the handful of graduates with this degree. “There is an interpreter shortage, so it’s super important to have anyone in the major to graduate and to continue being an interpreter.”
Film and Television graduate Ja’keeta Lewis said they were excited to be done with school, especially after “all the hard times I’d been through.”
Lewis wanted to leave their Columbia legacy for Black individuals and women — especially in the Film and Television industry.
“Don’t be scared,” Lewis said. “Even though your race is different, don’t be scared.”
Legacy was also something important to fashion studies graduate Joelle Olabode. “I would like to leave a legacy of teamwork, collaboration, love, unity and family.”
For future plans, Oladobe was excited to open new doors for herself and her career.
“I’m excited about ending school, I’m excited about going on,” Oladobe said. “I’m excited about the next opportunities and the doors that got to open for me.”
Fashion merchandising graduates Giovanna Domma and Lara Delanie York said their time at the college flew by but finally graduating felt amazing.
“I’m a transfer student so I was only here for two years, so being able to graduate from here is really amazing,” York said.
York said that her time at the college helped her break out of her shell.
“You have to really put yourself out there,” York said. “I’m a really shy person, but when you go to the events and actually go talk to people, you find a lot of amazing opportunities that you like.”
Jennifer Kemph received her master’s degree in arts management. She said COVID-19 took away her undergraduate graduation so she was glad to be recognized during the morning ceremony.
Karen Kemph, parent of Jennifer Kemph, said she “couldn’t be prouder.”
She kept going, Karen Kemph said of her daughter. “She’s done this all on her own. She’s an adult living on her own, paying for this herself, she’s gone through all of it.”
Kelsey Edmond, creative writing graduate, said they’re most excited to make money after receiving their degree. Although excited for officially being done with school, Edmond said “it’s scary, ‘cause now I’m in the real world, honey.”
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In his student commencement address, Elisha Dennard spoke about the challenges the 2025 graduating class has faced and overcome, explaining that these trials have “shaped who we are, and revealed just how resilient we can be.”
Dennard, an arts management major, encouraged the students to take on the responsibility of creating a better world than the one they know now. “For us, leadership is more than just a title,” he said, “It’s about impact.”
He also challenged them to be unafraid of exposing the truth and to continue pursuing solutions that “challenge the status quo.”
“We now have hope, the opportunity, the responsibility to shape the world reflects our hopes instead of our fears,” Dennard said. “The world isn’t just waiting, it’s calling. So let’s rise and make it better together.”
Interim President and CEO Jerry Tarrer, presiding over his only commencement after stepping in last summer when Kwang-Wu Kim stepped down, congratulated the graduates.
“We hope you go forward into your careers to apply what you have made in your heads along the end to help you take a more harmonious, a more humane, a more sustainable world,” Tarrer said. “Apply these principles to your life as creators in your careers, in your jobs, in your businesses with the goal of making this world a better one for all human beings.”
Twelve faculty earned the distinguished emeritus appointment for the first ceremony, which is awarded by the president to retired or retiring faculty to recognize their distinguished service to the school and students.
The first ceremony’s honorary degree recipient was alum Marcos Enrique “Kosine” Palacios, who graduated in 2006 with a degree in music business.
Palacios shared his story of graduating after an extra “bonus year” as a Columbia student and encouraged graduates to always ask, even if it may be pushing it.
“You have not because you ask not,” Palacios said. “Sometimes rejection is just redirection, and the real blessing is building your own table with your friends and homies.”
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As they lined up for the first of two commencement ceremonies on Sunday, May 18, graduates reflected on their time at the college and what’s ahead.
“We’re all like transitioning to the next moment in life together,” said Danny Ramirez, a film and television major.
Instead of multiple ceremonies over two days, Columbia consolidated two ceremonies on a single day at a new venue, the Credit Union 1 Arena on the campus of University of Illinois Chicago.
The first ceremony at 11 a.m. was for graduates from the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, School of Communication and Culture, School of Fashion and School of Film and Television.
This was the first graduation since Columbia’s historic restructuring at the end of the last academic year.
Graduating film and television majors Cayla Cramer and Lauren McClure lined up in the parking garage before their entrance into the arena on the campus of University of Illinois Chicago.
Cramer is a first-generation college graduate from their family.
“It’s scary,” Cramer said. “I’m just so nervous, but it’s kind of like a grieving period as well because I feel like such a different person, but it’s great.”
Madison Heiderscheit, a graduating film and television major, said her four years at the college “went by insanely fast.”
“I still feel like I have two years left,” Heiderscheit said.
Fashion studies major Savannah Applewhite said she felt excited as she prepared for graduation.
“I literally went to school during COVID, so I feel like making it to this day is just so humbling and blessed,” Applewhite said.
Isaiah Mitchell, a writing for television in business major, said that community was his biggest takeaway.
“So many lifelong connections I’ve made here that I’m gonna be happy that I have 10, 15, 20 years down the road for sure.”
Fashion studies major Lorena Castro said she felt “ready to kind of close off a chapter that was big for our lives.”
Vanisa Oupokin, a fashion studies major, said that the best thing she got from her time in Columbia was also community.
“Just like being in a community of creatives who appreciate other creatives is like one of the most warm feelings that you could feel.”
Fashion studies major Jessica Ochoa, said the ceremony was a good way to end her time at Columbia.
“During high school and middle school I was very shy and I wouldn’t want to go out of my comfort zone,” she said. “Coming to Columbia kind of pushed me to get out of my shell and just become the person that I am today.”
Ochoa said that she was both excited and nervous to be graduating today.
“It’s a little bittersweet just because we’ve had a routine for four years going to school,” she said. “Going out into the world and finding a job that gives us the same satisfaction is a little difficult during these times.”
Melissa Dominguez, a fashion studies major, said she felt like the four years went by quickly. Though she started out pursuing product development, Dominguez decided to switch to fashion merchandising and felt much more comfortable.
She explained that her time at Columbia was really about finding her place. “It was a challenge that took me some time to figure out,” she said.
Film and TV major Siobhan Walsh, said it was a long journey to make it to this point. “It feels very surreal,” she said.
Walsh said she was proud of becoming more social since transferring to Columbia two years ago. “Really just the people you meet here are an accomplishment itself,” she said.
International student from the Bahamas, Ashley Smith, is graduating with an interdisciplinary degree in interior architecture and fashion marketing and management.
“It’s just been a lot of struggles being an international student,” she said. “I feel like just reaching this point is a big thing for me.”
Smith said that her five years spent in Chicago have been “exciting” and “interesting,” but that she’s looking forward to gaining more experience in her career field after graduation.
Faculty from the four schools led graduates into the arena. They were followed by the stage party of administrators and speakers. Incoming President and CEO Shantay Bolton, who starts July 1, was part of the procession. The mace was carried by Faculty Senate Secretary and associate professor in the School of Film and Television Ted Hardin, leading the student procession into the auditorium.
As he walked by, Senior Associate Provost and associate professor of music Nathan Bakkum, pulled Jeff Spitz, associate professor in the School of Film and Television, onto the stage from the faculty section. This year is Spitz’s last commencement. Spitz is one of the five documented faculty who were laid off due to budget cuts. He was bestowed with the emeritus title in honor of his 23 years of teaching at the college.
Beth Ryan, professor of instruction in the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, began the ceremony by recognizing awards and milestones from each school, followed by a video project from Manifest on Friday, May 16.
Music business major, Uriel Blunt, created the music that was the backtrack to this video, and also had the chance to perform at the Manifest Arts Festival on Friday, May 16. He said that it was one of his “all time highlights” of his time at Columbia.
Blunt said that “it’s a blessing” to be graduating today. “Looking back at all the experience we gain and the connections, it’s ultimately surreal,” he said.
He said he hoped that his accomplishments leave a legacy of being a hardworking and resilient student to encourage the next generation of students to persevere despite the challenges they may face.
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