UW Tacoma 24th Annual Commencement: Biggest Ever

TACOMA, WASH. — On June 13, 2014, a record number of University of Washington Tacoma students will march across the stage at the Tacoma Dome, receive their degrees, and step into the vanguard of more than 15,000 UW Tacoma alumni. A total of 1,549 undergraduate and graduate degrees will be awarded by the campus this year.

About the Class of 2014

This year’s graduates range in age from 19 to 70. Eighty percent of the class of 2014 comes from the South Sound region. The remainder comes from all across the U.S. and 12 other countries. Eighty percent of UW Tacoma alumni stay in the region after graduating.

2014 is the largest graduating class in UW Tacoma’s history, and the largest of any South Sound 4-year degree-granting institution.

This year, 62 students will receive cum laude honors, 34 will be recognized with magna cum laude, and 12 will gain summa cum laude honors. Three students maintained perfect 4.0 records during their UW Tacoma career: Sharon Hunter of Port Orchard, Wash., Erin Sataloff of Puyallup, Wash., and Chris Lower of Lacey, Wash.

2014 Chancellor’s Medal

The winner of the 2014 Chancellor’s Medal, recognizing the most outstanding academic performance by a graduating student, is Sharon Hunter, who will receive a bachelor’s degree in environmental science. She grew up in rural Kitsap County, and has dreamed of being a research scientist from an early age. She received a Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Scholarship and a Mary Gates Research Scholarship.

Master in Cybersecurity and Leadership

The first cohort of students in the Master in Cybersecurity and Leadership (MCL) program will receive their degrees this year. The program was created in response to requests from the community, including the Washington National Guard at Camp Murray. It integrates leadership, technological, analytical, relational and communication skills focused on risk management, network and security architecture, operations, ethics, human behavior and business strategy. Twenty-six students will receive the degree at a special “hooding” ceremony on June 9.

Fifteen of the MCL graduates have a military connection, ranging from active Army to Air Force Reserve to Army and Navy veterans. The field is fast-growing, and graduates are getting jobs with government agencies and the private sector.

Commencement Speaker

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson will be the 2014 Commencement Speaker at the ceremony. Ferguson is a UW alumnus, having served as president of student government and graduating with a political science degree in 1989.

What: 2014 UW Tacoma Commencement ceremony

When: 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Friday, June 13, 2014

Where: Tacoma Dome, 2727 East D St., Tacoma, Wash.

More details: http://tacoma.uw.edu/commencement