Three soon-to-be graduates laugh together before crossing the street on
their way to Van Andel Arena.
Image credit - Ashley Cefali
Celebrating Lakers for a Lifetime: December 2023 Commencement in photos
December 9, 2023
Dec 13, 2023
Sandra Hernandez-Campos, a first-generation graduate, shows off the decoration on her graduation cap that reads in Spanish, "My parents came with nothing to give it all."
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Two soon-to-be graduates hug outside Van Andel Arena before Commencement on December 9.
Image credit - Ashley Cefali
Breeana Moncrief adjusts the graduation tassel before heading into Van Andel Arena for Commencement. Moncrief was a double major in business and marketing.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Jaedyn Winton hugs brother, Christian Winton, 13, before heading into the Commencement ceremony at Van Andel Arena.
Image credit - Macayla Cramer
A soon-to-be graduate adjusts their tassel before the start of the fall
Commencement ceremony at Van Andel Arena December 9.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Jaedyn Winton hugs her boyfriend before heading into the Commencement ceremony at Van Andel Arena.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Two people embrace outside the Van Andel Arena before the Commencement ceremony December 9.
Image credit - Ashley Cefali
Soon-to-be graduates embrace before heading into Van Andel Arena for
Commencement.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Alyssa Mroz, Anna Norton and Grace Morris, from left, all special education majors, share a moment together before Commencement December 9. "We finished student teaching yesterday," Mroz said. "This is the last step until we start our masters."
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A soon-to-be graduate poses for a selfie in front of the Van Andel Arena before heading in for the Commencement ceremony on December 9.
Image credit - Macayla Cramer
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Shannon Cohen, '00 and '11, center, the ceremony's guest speaker, processes in, followed by President Philomena V. Mantella.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Courtney Karasinski, vice chair of University Academic Senate, College of Health Professions, was the mace bearer during the fall Commencement ceremony at Van Andel Arena.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
The song "Seasons of Love" by Jonathan Larson was performed by students Anna Bremmer, Saamanthy Rajenthiran, Hannah St. Andre, Lindsey O'Donnell, Spencer Escareño-Kniat and Hunter Brown.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Shannon Cohen, '00 and '11, center, was the Commencement ceremony's guest speaker.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A student hugs President Philomena V. Mantella after they received their degree during the fall Commencement ceremony December 9.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Fatma Mili, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, left, and Jenny Hall-Jones, vice president for Student Affairs, share a moment on the stage during the fall Commencement ceremony.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
The ceremony's student speaker, Megan Smith, smiles while processing to
the stage during Commencement on December 9.
Image credit - Ashley Cefali
Many graduates decorated their caps with special messages.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
The ceremony's student speaker, Megan Smith, poses with her family for a group photo. Smith kept the speech as a surprise to her father.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Supporters filled Van Andel Arena to cheer on more than 1,300 graduating
Grand Valley students.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Graduates smile as they leave the stage with their diplomas during Commencement.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Two graduates share a moment as they leave the stage with their diplomas during Commencement.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Image credit - Ashley Cefali
Image credit - Ashley Cefali
Recent graduates celebrate on their way out of the arena after the
ceremony commenced.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Image credit - Ashley Cefali
Image credit - Ashley Cefali
Image credit - Macayla Cramer
Image credit - Ashley Cefali
A graduate walks past the stage after receiving their diploma during the
fall Commencement ceremony at Van Andel Arena December 9.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A soon-to-be graduate waits for the Commencement ceremony to begin at Van Andel Arena December 9.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A student is hooded during Commencement at Van Andel Arena December 9.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A graduate waves to the crowd as he walks across the Commencement stage.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Denzel Williams dons a pair of sunglasses before the start of the Commencement ceremony. Williams was receiving a degree in sport management.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A graduate records the recessional at the end of the Commencement
ceremony December 9.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Sam Maiyo shakes hands with President Philomena V. Mantella while crossing the stage to receive a diploma for nursing.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A soon-to-be graduate smiles as the procession passes during the fall Commencement ceremony.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Madelynn Lixie, center, waves to her friends and family in the audience before the start of the Commencement ceremony.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Brooke Mckenzie, hugs friends; they graduated from the nursing program together.
Image credit - Lauren Seymour
A graduate walks out of Commencement taking a selfie to remember the day.
Image credit - Lauren Seymour
A soon-to-be graduate waves to a person in the audience while waiting for the Commencement ceremony to start.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Faculty members leave the ceremony after more than 1,300 degrees were conferred.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A graduate takes a selfie to capture a memory at Commencement.
Image credit - Lauren Seymour
Three soon-to-be graduate hold up another soon-to-be graduate, Karim
Seif, who earned his degree in cyber security.
Image credit - Lauren Seymour
Image credit - Macayla Cramer
Mallory Kubeshesky hugs her grandma, cherishing their special bond, as she graduates.
Image credit - Lauren Seymour
Recent graduates pose with their families after the Commencement
ceremony at Van Andel Arena December 9.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Recent graduates pose with their families after the Commencement
ceremony at Van Andel Arena December 9.
Anna Mary Moody, left, and Jacquelyn Knapp pose for a photo together
after celebrating their graduation December 9. Moody received a degree
in special education and Knapp received a biomedical sciences degree.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Image credit - Ashley Cefali
Subscribe
Sign up and receive the latest Grand Valley headlines delivered to your email inbox each morning.
