Photos: Students walk the stage in UAA’s 2024 spring commencement

About 500 of the more than 900 students who earned certificates, undergraduate degrees or graduate degrees from UAA this spring took part in Sunday’s ceremony.

By Bill Roth
Updated: May 6, 2024 Published: May 6, 2024

Autumn Merrill reacts to earning a Master of Social Work degree as she walked across the stage during the UAA spring commencement ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on Sunday, May 5, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN)

About 500 students walked across the stage during the University of Alaska Anchorage’s spring commencement ceremony Sunday at the Alaska Airlines Center.

More than 900 students earned certificates, undergraduate and graduate degrees from UAA this spring.

Some of the UAA students were walking across a commencement stage for the first time, after their high school graduation ceremonies were canceled at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

About 500 students attended the UAA spring commencement ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Jennavy Villasenor, who earned a B.A. in psychology, carried her two-year-old son Yovanny Batista across the stage during the UAA spring commencement ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on Sunday. "I want to show him how strong I am," said Villasenor. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Family and friends filled the Alaska Airlines Center to honor about 500 students who attended the UAA spring commencement ceremony on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Graduates wait to walk across the stage during the UAA spring commencement ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Artie Gorash, who earned a B.S. in nursing, waves to family during the UAA spring commencement ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Kyra Meesook, who earned an associate degree in accounting, got a kiss from her son Jayden during the UAA spring commencement ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Graduates wore decorated mortar boards in celebration of the accomplishments during the UAA spring commencement ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

UAA spring commencement ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Katherine Sakeagak, center, and Hope Wells, right, move their tassels during the UAA spring commencement ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

UAA graduates received applause from faculty as they exited the Alaska Airlines Center during the commencement ceremony on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Cam Dolan, who earned a B.S. in computer science, waves to the crowd during the UAA spring commencement ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

UAA spring commencement ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

UAA spring commencement ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on Sunday, May 5, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN)

UAA spring commencement ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

UAA spring commencement ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Agnes Brown, who earned an associate degree in radiologic technology, wears candy leis after the UAA spring commencement ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Bill Roth

Bill Roth is a staff photojournalist at the Anchorage Daily News.