More than 1,500 UC Merced graduates were honored and celebrated during three days of commencement ceremonies over the past weekend at the university’s Recreation Field. They were joined by hundreds of family members, friends, faculty members and distinguished speakers.
In a surprise appearance, University of California President Michael V Drake took the stage as one of the speakers on Sunday morning during the commencement ceremony for UC Merced’s School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Art. More than 800 graduates attended the ceremony— the largest one-day commencement event in UC Merced history.
Drake reflected on the incredible growth of both the institution and its many students.
“In just 20 years, UC Merced has grown into an academic powerhouse and an economic boon to this region,” he said. “This is not the same school it was even when you arrived just a few years ago. Today, UC Merced is an R1 institution – a designation for schools that achieve the highest level of research activity and output – an incredible achievement. Today, UC Merced is ranked #1 by the Wall Street Journal in social mobility. Students who come here, no matter where they come from, or their financial situations, complete their degrees and go on to successful careers. And today, UC Merced is preparing to open a new medical education building to help train the next generation of health care professionals and expand health care access in communities across the Valley. These recognitions demonstrate the value of UC Merced, and of the entire University of California. They show the true purpose of higher education – to serve the greater good, to expand access and opportunity for students, and to improve the lives of families and communities across our state.”
Shirley Collado, the keynote speaker for the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences ceremony on Saturday, spoke about the importance and incredible value of the degree that these students have finally earned.
“We are at a time in our history when the value of a bachelor’s degree is being called into question — when education in America is being dramatically reconfigured. But the impact of your degree is undeniable. Earning a bachelor’s degree not only creates social and economic mobility, it prepares you to succeed in the workforce, to combine the expertise you’ve gained in your field of study with the opportunities you have had on this campus to develop your confidence, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. This is what employers are looking for and it makes each one of you a major contributor to the future of work in this country. In this way, higher education doesn’t just fuel the fire of individual dreams, it fuels the American dream.”
Kristynn Sullivan, the keynote speaker on Friday for the graduate division which honors our PhD and masters candidates, shared an inspiring, personal message to students: “Ten years ago, almost to the day, I was sitting where you are. My family had flown across the country to watch me mark this milestone and my newborn daughter was sleeping blissfully through what was one of the most meaningful moments of my academic career. I had a sense of accomplishment, of course – six years of hard work, culminating in this moment full of pomp and circumstance, but also a sense of deep uncertainty, because I had no idea what was next. If you had told me then that in a decade I would be back on this stage, but now addressing the Graduate Division class of 2025, I would never have believed you.”
Later she told them: “You will find yourselves at crossroads — you will think sometimes that the choices you make will have lasting implications and consequences, and you may be right. But it might not be the choice you think. It’s OK to make choices for practical reasons. It’s OK to choose the next right thing for you in that moment without having it mapped on to your 20-year plan. Once you take that next right step, you might get a whole new perspective on how you can best create a space for yourself.”