University of Alaska Southeast is honoring 670 graduates from the Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka campuses this weekend. They’ll receive 755 associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees along with occupational endorsements, certificates and professional licensures.
The UAS Sitka Campus commencement ceremony takes place Friday, 7 p.m. at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp. The UAS Ketchikan Campus ceremony is set for Saturday, 3 p.m. at the Ted Ferry Civic Center.
In Juneau on Sunday, the UAS Native & Rural Student Center hosts its annual Alaska Native Graduation Celebration at 11:30 a.m. in the Egan Lecture Hall. UAS Juneau campus celebrates its 45th annual commencement ceremony at 2 p.m. at the REC Center on Mendenhall Loop Road.
The Juneau student commencement speaker is Jasper Nelson. Nelson is Tsimshian and grew up in Craig on Prince of Wales Island. He is graduating with a Master of Arts in Teaching with an endorsement in Biology.
Honorary Doctorate of Law recipient Edward Thomas will deliver the Commencement Address. Thomas was president of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska from 1984 to 2014.
Sandro Lane, co-owner of Trident Seafoods Corporation, will also receive an Honorary Doctorate of Law. Juneau community volunteer Peter Freer will get a University of Alaska Meritorious Service award. Meritorious service awards are also going to arts advocate Jeff Budd in Sitka and fishing industry innovator Larry Painter in Ketchikan.
The gender breakdown of the graduating class of 2016 is 60 percent women and 40 percent men. Nearly nine percent of UAS graduates are Alaska Native/American Indian.
Following Juneau’s commencement ceremony will be a catered reception in the Lakeside Grill in the Mourant building. Shuttle service will be available from the main campus parking area to the REC center.
