Nursing students Isabella Crea, Leah Holt and Madelyn Knasinski embrace when they arrive and see each other at the UWM Panther Arena before the ceremony begins. (UWM photo/Elora Hennessey)
Education majors Keizan Sato and Blake Gribble pose for a photo. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Childhood education major Maddie Masse shows off her stole signed by her students and colleagues. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Commencement speaker Gale Klappa gives UWM graduates words of wisdom. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Lea Denny looks toward the audience after she is hooded as an honorary degree recipient with a doctorate of Community Mental Health and Leadership in recognition of her decades of work researching and developing a comprehensive mental health model that directly addresses historical and intergenerational trauma. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Arijit Sen, professor of architecture and urban studies, hoods Mania Taher who received her PhD in architecture. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
MLIS graduate student Nana Yorke pauses for a photo after receiving his master's diploma. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Chancellor Thomas Gibson shakes hands with a graduate student on stage. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
School of Freshwater Sciences students Stephen Scannell, Jena Choi and Natalie Chudzik stand when their school was called. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Juana Villarreal, an Information science and technology graduate, Marine Corps veteran and first-generation student, displays her degree as she walks across the stage. (UWM photo/Elora Hennessey)
Finn Engelbart, who received a Bachelor of Arts degree with an emphasis in fibers, shows the diploma to family and friends in the audience. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey
A student decorated their cap with a Bilbo Baggins quote from "Lord of the Rings": "I think I'm quite ready for another adventure." (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Friends Fadwa Kahla, Aisha Hameed and Natalie Suboh walk together arm in arm after receiving their degrees. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Lubar College of Business PhD Program Coordinator Monica Camacho embraces and poses with her nephew Max Meskin as he graduates from the College of Business. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
It’s the most wonderful time of year at a university: Graduation!
UWM doled out more than 1,500 degrees at fall graduation on Sunday, collected by happy graduates under the proud watch of parents, family and friends.
Here’s a look at Sunday’s festivities at the UWM Panther Arena, along with a look forward and a look back:
