U of I Spring Commencement set for May 11

MOSCOW, Idaho — More than 2,300 Vandals are eligible to receive at least 2,531 degrees at University of Idaho’s Spring Commencement ceremonies, with Winter 2023 graduates invited to join the Spring 2024 graduates. Ceremonies begin Saturday, May 11, and continue across the state through Monday, May 20.

The 1,779 eligible students who applied to graduate this spring applied for 253 associate degrees, 1,035 bachelor’s degrees, 356 master’s degrees, 46 doctoral degrees and 108 juris doctorates. Another 114 are receiving academic certificates and 12 are receiving specialist certificates.

“Commencement is the time to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our students and share in their excitement as they head out into the world,” U of I President Scott Green said. “While our world is a complicated place right now, there is no doubt our newest Vandal alumni are up to the task and ready to lead.”

Hiroshima survivor Keiko Ogura will receive an honorary doctorate at the Moscow ceremonies. With a strong belief in conveying the reality of the atomic bombing to people around the world, she has shared her A-bomb experience with world leaders and people in more than 50 countries and regions, including at U of I in 2022, where she connected with a group of students who completed a project to translate her children’s story.

Jean’ne Shreeve, U of I distinguished professor of chemistry and the university’s longest-serving employee, will receive the President’s Medallion during the Moscow ceremonies. Over her 63 years at U of I, Shreeve rose through the academic ranks and earned numerous honors and appointments. Her work has been cited more than 32,000 times worldwide.

Two commencement ceremonies will be held Saturday, May 11, at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome on the Moscow campus. Here’s the schedule:

• 9:30 a.m.: Colleges of Art and Architecture; Education, Health and Human Sciences; Law; and Letters, Arts and Social Sciences
• 2 p.m.: Colleges of Agricultural and Life Sciences; Business and Economics; Engineering; Science; and Natural Resources

All ceremonies across the state will be livestreamed at uidaho.edu/live.

Clear bags are required, and attendees must pass through metal detectors, per the university’s security protocols for large events. No bags will be permitted for graduating students.

No weapons, including knives or firearms, may enter the venue, per university policy. The rule applies to concealed carry permit holders.

U of I is a tobacco-free campus. Alcoholic beverages can only be consumed in approved locations on university property.

More information can be found at uidaho.edu/commencement.

U of I Boise’s commencement begins at 4 p.m. Mountain time Sunday, May 19, at the Boise Centre, 850 W. Front St. U of I Idaho Falls will host its ceremony at 7 p.m. Mountain time on Monday, May 20, at the Idaho Falls Center’s Bennion Student Union, 1784 Science Center Drive.

Each location will have its own keynote speaker:

• Moscow: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anthony Doerr will deliver the commencement address in Moscow. He has written three novels, a memoir and several short story collections. His bestselling book “All the Light We Cannot See” was awarded the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the 2015 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and remained on the New York Times Bestseller List for over 200 weeks in hardcover. Originally from Ohio, Doerr now calls Boise home.
• Boise: Otis Livingston ’91, CBS New York’s weekday sports anchor, will give the commencement address in Boise. The multiple Emmy Award winner has reported on professional sports including basketball and horse racing, tennis and the New York City Marathon, and everything in between. He has also served as a sideline reporter for CBS Sports’ NFL football coverage for many seasons.
• Idaho Falls: Karole Honas ’77, former longtime news anchor, will give the commencement address in Idaho Falls. She spent more than four decades working in television, including 30 at Local News 8. She received a U of I’s Silver and Gold alumni award in 2017 in addition to many other awards honoring her for her commitment to her industry and community.

A breakdown of degrees applied for by U of I centers includes:

• Moscow: 253 associate, 945 bachelor’s, 53 law, 216 master’s, 43 doctoral (1,510 total degrees)
• Boise: seven bachelor’s, 55 law, eight master’s, one doctoral, three specialist (74 total degrees)
• Coeur d’Alene: 11 bachelor’s, two master’s (13 total degrees)
• Idaho Falls: three bachelor’s, 16 master’s, two doctoral (21 total degrees)

U of I has graduated about 133,674 students with more than 143,323 degrees since its foundation.

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Media Contacts

Danae Lenz
External Communications Coordinator
University of Idaho
208-885-1605
dlenz@uidaho.edu