Happy UWM graduation!

An older white man and a younger Black man, both in graduation regalia, smile at each other as they stand in front of the UWM seal.
UWM Chancellor Mark Mone and County Executive David Crowley exchange smiles after Crowley officially received his diploma. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – graduation!

More than 1,700 students graduated from UWM this fall, many walking across the stage at the UWM Panther Arena on Sunday, Dec. 15 amid the cheers from family, friends, faculty and fellow graduates.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley gave the commencement address, and he is a graduate too. Inspired by his family, Crowley returned to college to finish his long-neglected degree, juggling classes at UWM with family life and his duties with the county. He received his bachelor’s degree in Community Engagement and Education at the ceremony not long after giving his speech.

Denis Kitchen, a UWM journalism graduate in 1968 and one of the original “underground” cartoonists in the late 1960s, was awarded an honorary degree at the ceremony.

You can watch the full video of the commencement ceremony here.

Check out some of the photos from commencement below and hear from geosciences student Jorge Acosta as he and fellow graduates reflect on their UWM careers.

By John Schumacher, Marketing & Communications

A sea of graduates in black robes and mortarboards face away from the viewer.
After receiving their degrees, undergraduates move their tassels from the right to the left. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
A young woman smiles widely at the camera. She wears a black robe, a decorate mortarboard, and has green and yellow hair. She holds up a diploma. Behind her is the UWM seal.
Kaye Van Susteren-Wedesky shows off her diploma after receiving a Bachelor’s in communication. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
On the right, a bearded older white man with glasses and wearing graduation regalia accepts an award from a man in graduation regalia with his back to the camera. On the left, an older white man in regalia looks on.
Denis Kitchen, a UWM journalism grad from 1968 and one of the “original” underground cartoonists in the late 1960s, accepts his honorary degree. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)

UWM Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge in Milwaukee that we are on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk and Menominee homeland along the southwest shores of Michigami, North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida and Mohican nations remain present.   |   To learn more, visit the Electa Quinney Institute website.