Photo caption: The above image of commencement predates the COVID-19 pandemic. In accordance with campus mask guidelines, all graduates and attendees at the Dec. 18 ceremonies must wear face coverings.
Commencement exercises for 737 students at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire will be Saturday, Dec. 18, in Zorn Arena.
Those not able to attend in person can watch a livestream of the ceremonies.
Candidates from the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences will receive degrees during a 9 a.m. ceremony.
Candidates from the College of Business and the College of Education and Human Sciences will receive degrees during a 1 p.m. ceremony.
A total of 687 students are candidates for bachelor's degrees, including 280 from the College of Arts and Sciences, 180 from the College of Business, 168 from the College of Education and Human Sciences and 59 from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
A total of 50 students are candidates for graduate degrees. In the College of Arts and Sciences, seven Blugolds are candidates for a specialist in education degree and 16 students are candidates for a master's degree. Twenty-three students are candidates for master's degrees from the College of Business and four students are candidates for master’s degrees from the College of Education and Human Sciences.
During both ceremonies, the "Alma Mater" will be led by Avery Burns, a candidate for a bachelor of music education degree in choral teaching from Kimberly. Burns served as choral department assistant and held leadership positions in several choral ensembles. She plans to teach choral music in Minnesota and pursue postgraduate degrees in the field.
Derek Bates of Hudson, a candidate for a bachelor of arts degree in Spanish, will deliver "Blugold Reflections" during the morning ceremony.
Chloe Falcon of Kenosha, a candidate for a bachelor of arts degree in English teaching, will present "Blugold Reflections" at the afternoon ceremony.
UW-Eau Claire alumnus Dr. Woubeshet Ayenew, this year’s Lifetime Excellence Award winner, cardiologist and director of the Cardiovascular Clinic and Outreach Services at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, will deliver the "Charge to the Class" at both ceremonies.
Along with Dr. Ayenew, five other UW-Eau Claire alumni will be recognized during the commencement ceremonies as UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association award recipients.
They are Tyler Patterson, Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award; Paul Kohler and Jennifer Borski, President's Award; and Dr. Ronald Walsh and Pamela White, Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award. (Read more about the Alumni Association award recipients.)
