UAA commencement and graduate degree hooding speakers offer their insights

by Catalina Myers, UAA Office of University Advancement  |   

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From left to right, graduate degree hooding ceremony speaker, Virginia Groeschel and commencement speakers, Clare Balwin and Alex Jorgensen. 

Each year the student commencement speaker and the graduate degree hooding speaker offer addresses during the respective ceremonies as representatives of their graduating class. Unique to this year’s spring 2020 commencement ceremony, a virtual celebration will be held online, A Tribute to Our Grads: UAA Spring 2020 Graduation Day Celebration, and two student speakers were chosen with the honor to address their graduating class.  

Commencement speaker Clare Baldwin

Economics major Clare Baldwin has actively engaged in the UAA and Anchorage communities during her collegiate career and shares how interconnectedness not only helped her discover her major, but to also find community on campus.

Commencement speaker Alex Jorgensen

Political science major Alex Jorgensen believes in the power of education and has been a dynamic voice advocating for students and the university during his tenure at UAA. He shares how perseverance has inspired him to use his voice to promote the needs of students in Alaska and how he will continue to champion the university after he graduates.

Graduate degree hooding ceremony speaker Virginia Groeschel

Consultant coordinator, College of Engineering Alumni Chapter president and alumna in civil engineering and project management Virginia Groeschel has been honored before as the 2014 Alumni Emerging Leader, one of three annual Alumni of Distinction awards.  This year she returns to share her insights on the importance of positivity with this year’s graduating class.

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