Photo Essay & Full Video: UH Hilo 2018 Spring Commencement

Posted on May 16, 2018May 13, 2024 by Staff

Graduating students at UH Hilo met the challenge of finals during an erupting volcano, proving nothing can stop these extraordinary future leaders of our island communities and the world. I mua!

Photos by Bob Douglas.

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo 2018 Spring Commencement was held Saturday, May 12, 2018, at Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium in Hilo. It was a special triumph this year given the challenges presented by the Kīlauea eruption that started just before finals.

“Through this difficult time, all of you stepped up and proved once again that the foundation of this campus is truly driven by the spirit of caring for one another,” says Interim Chancellor Marcia Sakai in a mahalo message sent out to the university community on May 11.

UH Hilo students petitioned for degrees and/or certificates from the colleges of Arts and Sciences (589); Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management (22); Business and Economics (57); Pharmacy (143); Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language (48); and for various post-graduate credentials (19). Keynote speaker was Henk Rogers, a Dutch-born video game entrepreneur and leading clean energy advocate. Students speaker was Matthew Ruiz, Jr, a sociology major who will be entering UH Hilo’s Master of Arts in Teaching program this summer. Read more details about commencement and speakers.

Click photos to enlarge.

Before Start of Commencement

Processional & Opening

Group blows conch shells at start of procession.

Female candidate waves as she enters venue.

Female graduate leans over to wave at friends.

Opening Remarks

Interim Chancellor Marcia Sakai at podium. — Interim Chancellor Marcia Sakai

Teaching Awards

Lisa Parr smiling. — The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching was awarded to Lisa Parr, instructor in marine science.

Lisa Parr hugging presenter. — Lisa Parr

Steven Lundblad stands near podium — Steven Lundblad, professor of geology, received the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Steven Lundblad shakes hand of presenter. — Steven Lundblad

Patricia Hensley stands near podium — The Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching was presented to Patricia Hensley, assistant professor of nursing.

Patricia Hensley looks down at certificate. — Patricia Hensley

Keynote and Student Speaker

Mortarboard Communication

Mortarboard with the words: ONLY TOOK 43 YEARS

Mortarboard with the words: Four Years Later

Mortarboard with the words: BSN ala Mom is finally done!

Mortarboard with the words: What time is it? Graduation time!

Mortarboard with the words: 2018, with an image of a beaker.

Conferring of Baccalaureate Degrees

On the dais, chancellor shakes hand of graduate.

Graduate holds his diploma, looks to his left, smiling.

Graduate with diploma, wearing lei and red sash, she throws the shaka to the crowd..

Graduate with dog by her side leaves the dais.

Happy graduate with money lei, holds diploma.

Graduate reaches up to tassel on his cap.

Female graduate with lei on cap, holds diploma as she leaves the dais.

Older graduate with white sash, smiles, leaving dais.

Graduate in sunglasses, holds her diploma off to the side. She wears a red cord..

Graduate with long hair holds her diploma.

Happy graduate with his diploma flashes the peace sign.

Graduate holds her arms high overhead in happiness.

Graduate with long flowing hair leaves dais holding his little dog.

Graduate wearing green sash holds her diploma.

Graduate with thick floral lei on her cap, and wearing orchid lei, walks with her diploma.

Graduate stops and poses for photo while holding diploma.

Graduate with diploma does a happy dance as he leaves the dais.

Conferring of Graduate Degrees

Two people assist as graduate student on dais receives hood.

Two people lift hood over student's shoulders.

Graduate student bows head as two people place hood on her shoulders.

Graduate student with hood poses with diploma.

Professor places hood over student's head.

Graduate student smiles while hood is placed over his head.

Graduate student looks to professor. smiling, as another professor places hood over her head.

Graduate student big smile as professor places hood on her shoulders.

Conferring of Doctoral Degrees

Large group of pharmacy students with hoods. — Pharmacy graduates.

Professor places red hood on graduates shoulders.

Doctoral graduate student receives his hood.

Pharmacy doctoral student receives hood from professor who is lifting it over graduate's head to place on shoulders.

Celebration

Graduate in sunglasses gives the shaka to the camera.

Graduate with bright golden head lei poses with family.

Graduate with well wisher, they are touching heads.

Graduates with lei all the way up to noses, with inflatable frog and horse.

Two male graduates with lei and diplomas.

Honors graduates with sashes, lei, standing with friends.

Graduate with lei and inflatable animal. life preserver

About the photographer: Bob Douglas is a local artist, photographer, and sometimes part-time student who volunteers his photography skills to the Office of the Chancellor and UH Hilo Stories.