91探花 President Ana Mari Cauce inspired graduates at the UW鈥檚 150th Commencement ceremony on Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium on Saturday.

Cauce delivered her final address before ending her 10-year run as president and returning to the faculty.

“Graduates 鈥� right here, right now you stand on the edge of possibility, and you will be confronted with choices, challenges and opportunities that none of us can begin to imagine,” Cauce said. “That鈥檚 why all of us on this stage and in the audience are not only proud of your achievements, we are grateful 鈥� because the world urgently needs your voices and efforts.”

More than 7,400 91探花graduates of the Class of 2025 鈥� the most ever to pre-register 鈥� participated. About 50,000 family members and friends cheered the graduates from the Husky Stadium grandstands.

91探花Tacoma held its commencement June 13 at the Tacoma Dome. 91探花Bothell鈥檚 graduation ceremonies are scheduled for June 15 at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

See highlights from Husky Stadium, Hec Edmundson Pavilion and the Tacoma Dome in the photo gallery below.

President Cauce presented nearly 18,833 degrees to the Class of 2025 across all three 91探花campuses鈥� ceremonies. Members of the 91探花Board of Regents, deans and other representatives of the University鈥檚 24 colleges and schools across all three campuses also will participate in the ceremonies.

The following data, drawn from preliminary information broken down by campus and prepared by the Office of the University Registrar, was presented at the Board of Regents鈥� June 12 meeting:听

• For work completed at the听Seattle听campus, about 15,412 degrees will be conferred, specifically: 8,712 bachelor鈥檚 degrees, 5,161 master鈥檚 degrees, 589 professional degrees, 17 Educational Specialist degrees, and 933 doctoral degrees.听
• 础迟听 91探花Bothell, about 1,663 degrees will be conferred, including 1,425 bachelor鈥檚 degrees and 238 master鈥檚 degrees.听
• And at听 91探花Tacoma,听students will receive about 1,758 degrees, including 1,393 bachelor鈥檚 degrees, 350 master鈥檚 degrees, 12 Educational Specialist degrees and three doctoral degrees.听

Degrees are awarded to those who have completed academic requirements during the 2024-2025 academic year. Many colleges and schools also hold separate graduation programs and investiture ceremonies.听

Award-winning author of 鈥淭he Boys in the Boat,鈥� Daniel James Brown, inspired more than 7,400 91探花 graduates with the 1936 story of the men鈥檚 rowing team winning Olympic Gold. Brown was the featured speaker at the 91探花鈥檚 149th Commencement ceremony on Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Perseverance, resilience, earnestness, trustworthiness and humility were just as important as muscle and brawn, Brown said, and if any of the nine-man crew were still alive today, they鈥檇 tell today鈥檚 graduates to aim high.

鈥淕o for the gold, whatever form that might take in your life,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淏e audacious in your goals.鈥�

See highlights from Husky Stadium and the Tacoma Dome in the photo gallery below.

Brown received an honorary degree for his impact on scholarship in the humanities, and the 91探花also honored Susan Solomon, a professor at MIT, for her pioneering research on ozone depletion and the chemistry of the stratosphere.

More than 7,400 91探花graduates of the Class of 2024 participated in the June 8 ceremony. Officials say about 40,000 family and friends were present to cheer the graduates from the Husky Stadium grandstands.

91探花Tacoma held its commencement June 7 at Tacoma Dome. 91探花Bothell鈥檚 graduation ceremonies are scheduled for June 9 at T-Mobile Park.

91探花President Ana Mari Cauce will present 18,007 degrees to the Class of 2024 across all three 91探花campuses鈥� ceremonies. Members of the 91探花Board of Regents, deans and other representatives of the university鈥檚 24 colleges and schools across all three campuses also will participate in the ceremonies.

The following听data, drawn from preliminary information broken down by campus and prepared by the Office of the University Registrar, will be presented听at the Board of Regents鈥� June 13 meeting:

• For work completed at the听Seattle听campus, about 14,527 degrees will be conferred, specifically: 8,471 bachelor鈥檚 degrees, 4,518 master鈥檚 degrees, 607 professional degrees, 28 Educational Specialist degrees, and 902 doctoral degrees.
• 础迟听 91探花Bothell, about 1,762 degrees will be conferred, including 1,564 bachelor鈥檚 degrees and 109 master鈥檚 degrees.
• And at听 91探花Tacoma,听students will receive about 1,718 degrees, including 1,350 bachelor鈥檚 degrees, 350 master鈥檚 degrees and 18 doctoral degrees.

Degrees are awarded to those who have completed academic requirements during the 2023-2024 academic year. Many colleges and schools also hold separate graduation programs and investiture ceremonies.

UPDATE June 5, 2024: This story has been updated to correct the total number of degrees that will be conferred.

, the author of 鈥淏oys in the Boat,鈥� the story of the 1936 91探花 men鈥檚 rowing team, will deliver the 2024 Commencement address for the 149th ceremony, which takes place June 8 at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium.

The feature film based on Brown鈥檚 2014 bestseller, 鈥淏oys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics,鈥� was released late last year, propelling the story of grit, determination and community support to global audiences.

鈥淚n telling the story of 鈥橳he Boys in Boat,鈥� Dan has brought a treasured piece of Pacific Northwest and 91探花history to life and inspired people all over the world,鈥� 91探花President Ana Mari Cauce said. 鈥淲e are honored to have him to be a part of this very special day in the lives of our graduates and their families.鈥�

Brown will receive an honorary degree for his impact on scholarship in the humanities. The 91探花will also recognize MIT atmospheric chemist Susan Solomon at Commencement for her pioneering research on ozone depletion and the chemistry of the stratosphere.

Brown鈥檚 books focus on pivotal moments in history that have often been overlooked. He told the story of Japanese American heroes of World War II in 鈥淔acing the Mountain.鈥� In 鈥淭he Indifferent Stars Above,鈥� he chronicled a Donner party bride鈥檚 32-day trek through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. And in the pages of 鈥淯nder the Flaming Sky,鈥� he revealed the social, economic and environmental causes of the Great Hinkley Firestorm of 1894. 鈥淏oys in the Boat,鈥� the tale of the Depression-era crew team that overcame seemingly impossible obstacles and stunned the world by winning Gold at the Berlin Olympics, has been translated into more than a dozen languages and is the recipient of a number of awards including the American Library Association鈥檚 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction.

鈥淎s an ardent, life-long supporter of public education 鈥� particularly higher education 鈥� I鈥檓 profoundly grateful to the 91探花 for bestowing this honor on me,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淭he upcoming commencement ceremony is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to express my gratitude to the university for all that it does to cultivate the arts and humane values in our community and the wider world.鈥�

Brown earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from University of California, Berkeley, and a master of arts from UCLA. He鈥檚 taught writing at San Jose State University and Stanford University and continues to write from his home near Seattle.

The 91探花 149th Commencement is scheduled for Saturday, June 8, at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. This year, the 91探花will recognize best-selling author Daniel James Brown and Susan Solomon, a professor of environmental science and chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Both will receive honorary degrees for their contributions to the humanities and sciences.

Daniel James Brown

Best-selling author will receive an honorary degree for his impact on the humanities. His book 鈥淏oys in the Boat鈥� tells the story of the 91探花 men鈥檚 rowing team鈥檚 path to victory at the 1936 Olympic games; Brown also will deliver the Commencement address.

Brown鈥檚 books focus on pivotal moments in history that have often been overlooked. He told the story of Japanese American heroes of World War II in 鈥淔acing the Mountain.鈥� In 鈥淭he Indifferent Stars Above,鈥� he chronicled a Donner party bride鈥檚 32-day trek through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. And in the pages of 鈥淯nder the Flaming Sky,鈥� he revealed the social, economic and environmental causes of the Great Hinkley Firestorm of 1894.

鈥淏oys in the Boat,鈥� the tale of the 91探花crew team that overcame seemingly impossible obstacles, has been translated into more than a dozen languages and is the recipient of several awards including the American Library Association鈥檚 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. The story brings to life Seattle in the 1930s, following the men鈥檚 rowing team to Olympic gold. Pivotal to the team鈥檚 success was the way people in the community contributed hard-earned funds to send the team to Berlin. This epic narrative of innovation, collaboration and shared success continues to endure, largely because those same values unite the 91探花and the Pacific Northwest today.

Susan Solomon

The 91探花will also recognize , an MIT atmospheric chemist whose research has left an indelible mark on the fields of atmospheric science and climate research, significantly advancing the understanding of ozone depletion and the chemistry of the Earth鈥檚 stratosphere.

Her groundbreaking research played a crucial role in identifying and elucidating the mechanisms behind the Antarctic ozone hole, leading to the historic Montreal Protocol 鈥� an international treaty that successfully curtailed the use of ozone-depleting substances and helped protect the Earth’s fragile ozone layer. Her contributions have deepened scientific knowledge and led to tangible policy actions that have safeguarded the environment and the health of future generations.

In 2007, Solomon, as co-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Working Group One, was among those honored by the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Vice President Al Gore. She is a recipient of more than 20 honorary degrees, is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and was awarded the U.S. National Medal of Science in 2000. She received a bachelor鈥檚 degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and her master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees from University of California, Berkeley.

Solomon spent sabbaticals in 2008 and 2019 collaborating and teaching graduate students at the UW鈥檚 Department of Atmospheric Sciences. In 2019, Solomon was the Robert Fleagle Endowed Lecturer.

Light rain didn’t dampen spirits for this year’s graduates and their proud friends and family members. More than 7,000 91探花 graduates of the Class of 2023 participated in Saturday’s 148th Commencement on Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium.

91探花officials estimated more than 40,000 spectators filled the stands to cheer on this year’s graduating class.

91探花President Ana Mari Cauce presented nearly 18,158 degrees to the Class of 2023 across all three 91探花campuses鈥� ceremonies. Members of the 91探花Board of Regents, deans and other representatives of the university鈥檚 24 colleges and schools across all three campuses also participated in the ceremonies.

See highlights from Saturday’s ceremony at Husky Stadium in the photo gallery below.

The following graduation , drawn from preliminary information broken down by campus and prepared by the Office of the University Registrar, was presented听at the Board of Regents鈥� June 8 meeting:

• For work completed at the Seattle campus, about 14,494 degrees were conferred, specifically: 8,483 bachelor’s degrees, 4,593 master’s degrees, 589 professional degrees, 15 Educational Specialist degrees, and 815 doctoral degrees
• At 91探花Tacoma, where celebrations took place Friday morning at the Tacoma Dome, students received about 1,778 degrees, including 1,465 bachelor’s degrees, 312 master’s degrees and one doctoral degree. Watch a replay of the 91探花Tacoma Commencement
• At 91探花Bothell, where ceremonies took place Sunday at T-Mobile Park, about 1,885 degrees were conferred, including 1,679 bachelor’s degrees and 207 master’s degrees. Watch a replay of the 91探花Bothell Commencement

Degrees are awarded to those who have completed academic requirements during the 2022-2023 academic year. Many colleges and schools also hold separate graduation programs and investiture ceremonies.

Related coverage: KIRO 7 () and (), , , , , ,

UPDATE on June 10: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Secretary Cardona will not be speaking at today鈥檚 commencement ceremony.

ORIGINAL POST: Months after the Class of 2023 began their college careers, the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, upending their lives. Now, on the eve of their graduation, they emerge into a world much changed by the global health crisis.听

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona 鈥� who will be the featured speaker at the 91探花鈥檚 148th Commencement ceremony on Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium 鈥� said he acknowledged the perseverance of the graduating class, having endured challenges few could have predicted.听

鈥淭heir resilience and determination will drive their success wherever they go,鈥� Cardona said.听

More than 7,000 91探花graduates of the Class of 2023 plan to participate in the June 10 ceremony and hear Cardona鈥檚 address. Officials expect about 40,000 family and friends to cheer the graduates from the Husky Stadium grandstands.

91探花Tacoma will hold its commencement June 9, returning to the Tacoma Dome after a three-year absence for what is expected to be the largest single ceremony in 91探花Tacoma history. 91探花Bothell鈥檚 graduation ceremonies are scheduled for June 11, back at T-Mobile Park in Seattle for the first time in three years. 听

91探花President Ana Mari Cauce will present nearly 18,158 degrees to the Class of 2023 across all three 91探花campuses鈥� ceremonies. Members of the 91探花Board of Regents, deans and other representatives of the university鈥檚 24 colleges and schools across all three campuses also will participate in the ceremonies.听

The following , drawn from preliminary information broken down by campus and prepared by the Office of the University Registrar, will be presented听at the Board of Regents鈥� June 8 meeting:听

• For work completed at the Seattle campus, about 14,494 degrees will be conferred, specifically: 8,483 bachelor’s degrees, 4,593 master’s degrees, 589 professional degrees, 15 Educational Specialist degrees, and 815 doctoral degrees.听
• At 91探花Bothell, about 1,885 degrees will be conferred, including 1,679 bachelor’s degrees and 207 master’s degrees.听
• And at 91探花Tacoma, students will receive about 1,778 degrees, including 1,465 bachelor’s degrees, 312 master’s degrees and one doctoral degree.听

Degrees are awarded to those who have completed academic requirements during the 2022-2023 academic year. Many colleges and schools also hold separate graduation programs and investiture ceremonies.听

UPDATE on June 10:听Due to unforeseen circumstances, Secretary Cardona will not be speaking at today鈥檚 commencement ceremony.

ORIGINAL POST: U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona will deliver the 2023 Commencement address for the 148th ceremony, which takes place June 10 at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium.

Cardona, who began his career as an elementary school teacher, was tapped by President Joe Biden to serve the nation and help schools reopen following the COVID lockdown. He aims to raise the bar for equity and excellence in education for all learners, and notes a commitment to working in partnership with parents, families, students and educators to recover from the pandemic and reimagine a higher-performing and more equitable education system that works better for all.

鈥淲e are thrilled to welcome Secretary Cardona to the 91探花and delighted that he will address this year鈥檚 graduating class. His leadership in addressing the burden of student loans and his听commitment to increasing access to higher education so that more students can succeed in pursuing their dreams is creating impact at the 91探花and throughout Washington and the nation,鈥� 91探花President Ana Mari Cauce said. 鈥淚 know our graduates and their families will be inspired by his participation in their special day.鈥�

Under Cardona鈥檚 leadership, the Education Department has focused on helping all K-12 students accelerate learning and achieve academic excellence; delivering a comprehensive and rigorous education for every student; eliminating the teacher shortage for every school; investing in every student’s mental health and well-being; providing every student with a pathway to multilingualism; and ensuring every student has avenues to college and a career.

鈥淭he 91探花 is an exciting place that continues to raise the bar for academic excellence, innovation and inclusion, and I鈥檓 truly honored to join the 91探花community in celebrating the Class of 2023,鈥� Cardona said. 鈥淭hese students will graduate having persevered through all the challenges presented by a global pandemic, and their resilience and determination will drive their success wherever they go.鈥�

Before moving to Washington, D.C., Cardona served as Connecticut鈥檚 commissioner of education, a position he held since 2019. Connecticut was the first state in the nation to provide equitable access to learning devices amid the COVID pandemic and was one of the first in the country to reopen schools. Recognizing the importance of providing resources for the social and emotional health of students and staff, the state also collaborated with regional institutions of higher education and formed other public-private partnerships to provide free social and emotional learning courses for students.

Prior to his time in Hartford, Cardona worked for years in the same Connecticut school system he attended as a child. He started as a classroom teacher and then served as a school principal and assistant superintendent for teaching and learning. He is the recipient of the 2012 National Distinguished Principal Award for the State of Connecticut and the Outstanding Administrator Award from the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education.

Cardona earned a bachelor’s degree from Central Connecticut State University. He earned a master’s degree and a doctorate from the University of Connecticut.

There was much to celebrate at the 91探花 this past weekend.

On Saturday, for the first time since 2019, the 91探花held in-person Commencement ceremonies at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium where the University conferred degrees on the Class of 2022. On Sunday, it welcomed alumni from the 2020 and 2021 graduating classes for a .

About 7,000 91探花 graduates of the Class of 2022 marched into Husky Stadium Saturday afternoon, the most ever to participate in a Commencement ceremony in 91探花history. An estimated 50,000 family and friends gathered in the stands to cheer on the graduates. Watch a video of the highlights:

On Sunday, about 2,400 alumni from the classes of 2020 and 2021, whose ceremonies were forced online during the COVID-19 pandemic, returned to the 91探花to participate in a second ceremony in Husky Stadium. About 20,000 of their family and friends filled the stadium. Watch a video of the highlights:

91探花Tacoma will hold its Monday at the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup. 91探花Bothell鈥檚 are scheduled June 15 at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Ed Pavilion in Seattle.

Both campuses have grouped graduates into early and late ceremonies according to academic school to accommodate this year’s participants and welcome back alumni from the classes of 2020 and 2021.

Read more about the UW’s graduation celebrations here.

See related news coverage:

• KING 5: 听and

Cue the band: It鈥檚 time for “Pomp and Circumstance.鈥�

There will be flowing robes and purple-and-gold tassels. The gonfalons, symbols of the 16 colleges and schools that make up the 91探花, have been unfurled and prepared. Campus is being adorned and the iconic Drumheller Fountain soon will again be cast in a purple glow.

On the second weekend in June, for the first time since 2019, the 91探花will hold in-person commencement ceremonies at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. The University will confer degrees on the Class of 2022, while welcoming alumni from the 2020 and 2021 school years for a Return to Husky Stadium Graduation Celebration.

Nearly 7,000 91探花graduates of the Class of 2022 plan to march on Saturday, June 11. Another 2,400 graduates from the classes of 2020 and 2021, whose ceremonies were forced online during the COVID-19 pandemic, are expected to return to the 91探花and participate in a second ceremony in Husky Stadium on Sunday, June 12. Officials expect about 50,000 family and friends to cheer the graduates on Saturday, and up to 20,000 supporters at Sunday鈥檚 ceremony. The exact number of degrees being awarded is listed below.

鈥淪ince 2019 we have been eagerly awaiting the moment when we could come together as a community to welcome back the classes of 2020 and 2021, to give them the opportunity to cross the stage in Husky Stadium, and to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of the Class of 2022,鈥� said Denzil Suite, 91探花Vice President for Student Life. 鈥淭hese students鈥� university experience has been marked by significant challenges that required them to adapt to an ever-evolving set of public health guidelines under COVID. We couldn鈥檛 be happier to join everyone in person, thank them for their resilience, and offer a heartfelt 鈥楪o Huskies鈥� to all.鈥�

91探花Tacoma will hold its graduation ceremonies June 13 at the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup. 91探花Bothell鈥檚 events are scheduled June 15 at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Ed Pavilion in Seattle. Both campuses have grouped graduates into early and late ceremonies according to academic school to accommodate this year鈥檚 participants and welcome back alumni from the classes of 2020 and 2021.

In Seattle, four-time Tony Award-winning producer Ron Simons, a 91探花alumnus who is well known for his work on Broadway and in Hollywood, will deliver the 2022 Commencement address on June 11. Simons鈥� current Broadway production, a revival of Ntozake Shange鈥檚 groundbreaking choreopoem 鈥渇or colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf,鈥� was nominated this year for seven Tony Awards, including production.

Former 91探花Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences Robert Stacey will speak to the graduates of the classes of 2020 and 2021 on June 12. Stacey is a veteran of the UW, serving more than three decades in teaching and leadership positions. A professor of history, he was dean of Arts & Sciences, the university鈥檚 largest college, from 2013 until his retirement in 2021, during which time he helped overcome many of the challenges brought on by the pandemic, including the rapid adaptation to remote learning.

Members of the 91探花Board of Regents, deans and other representatives of the university鈥檚 16 colleges and schools will participate in the ceremony.

91探花President Ana Mari Cauce will present nearly 18,708 degrees to the Class of 2022 across all three 91探花 campuses. The data, drawn from preliminary information that will be presented to the Board of Regents next week, is broken down by campus below:

• For work completed at the Seattle campus, about 14,842 degrees will be conferred, specifically: 8,746 bachelor’s degrees, 4,664 master’s degrees, 607 professional degrees, 16 Educational Specialist degrees, and 810 doctoral degrees.
• At 91探花Bothell, about 2,011 degrees will be conferred, including 1,787 bachelor’s degrees and 225 master’s degrees.
• And at 91探花Tacoma, students will receive about 1,854 degrees, including 1,496 bachelor’s degrees, 357 master’s degrees and one doctoral degree.

Degrees are awarded to those who have completed academic requirements during the 2021-2022 academic year. Many colleges and schools also have separate graduation programs and investiture ceremonies.

Former 91探花Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences 听will speak to the graduates of the classes of 2020 and 2021 when they return to Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium for an in-person celebration on Sunday, June 12.

Commencement ceremonies were held virtually in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the 91探花is hosting two in-person ceremonies: the first for the graduating Class of 2022 on June 11, and the second for graduates of the classes of 2020 and 2021 on June 12. Tony Award-winning actor and producer Ron Simons will speak at the ceremony on June 11.

Stacey is a veteran of the UW, serving more than three decades in teaching and leadership positions. A professor of history, he was dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, the university鈥檚 largest college, from 2013 until his retirement in 2021, during which time he helped overcome many of the challenges brought on by the pandemic, including the rapid adaptation to remote learning. He began his career teaching at Yale University before moving to the 91探花in 1988.

His pedagogy was celebrated with distinguished teaching awards at both Yale and the UW, and he鈥檚 held numerous positions in his 91探花career including chair of the History and Jewish Studies departments, divisional dean of arts and humanities and of social sciences. He has served on the Faculty Senate and headed the UW鈥檚 Advisory Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics. Currently, he鈥檚 teaching the 91探花men鈥檚 soccer team about Scottish history, politics and independence in advance of a summer tournament that will be played there.

鈥淎s a leader, scholar and teacher, Bob has contributed so much to our great public university, particularly during the most difficult years of the pandemic,鈥� said 91探花President Ana Mari Cauce. 鈥淪o, it鈥檚 incredibly meaningful and fitting that he will address our graduating classes of 2020 and 2021 as they return to campus for the in-person celebration of their degrees that we have been anticipating for so long.鈥�

Stacey, a specialist in medieval history, plans to talk about the world that these graduates inherited: one where the U.S. has been at war and students have grappled with inequality and indebtedness, all exacerbated by COVID.

鈥淚’m going to try to leave them with a sense of how much we, as a country, need this group of students, their experiences, their energy, their commitment, their sense that there needs to be fundamental changes in this country and the larger world,鈥� Stacey said. 鈥淭hey’re important, they matter. It’s been tough for these classes, but they’ve come through it. They’ve shown themselves and the world a lot of resilience, and they’re going to need that going forward.鈥�

More than 4,000 graduates from the 2020 and 2021 years have expressed interest in returning to Seattle to mark their academic success, and officials expect tens of thousands of spectators.

Savanna Yee, who graduated with a double degree in computer science and informatics in 2020, said she plans to participate in the June 12 event.

鈥淚 didn’t go to a high school graduation, so I’m really looking forward to wearing the cap and gown and walking across a big stage for the first time in my life,鈥� she said.

Yee now is pursuing a master鈥檚 in computer science at UW. She鈥檚 pleased that the university kept its word to host a special ceremony for the two classes that celebrated graduation online. While it will be great to reunite with classmates and wear the purple and gold, she鈥檚 most excited to include the people who matter most in her achievement.

鈥淚’m also really looking forward to sharing in the festivities with my family, since they were wholly responsible for making this possible for me,鈥� Yee said.

Stacey said that he鈥檚 humbled to cap his long career at the 91探花by addressing students like Yee, her family and the community.

鈥淚 came to the 91探花because I wanted to teach at a public research institution, where students, if they did well, could go on anywhere in the world. There aren’t many of those places. 91探花is one of the few and they’re very precious,鈥� Stacey said. 鈥淚t’s always been an honor for me to be part of the 91探花. I want to send students away with some of that same feeling on their part too, that it really is a special place. There are not many places like it in the country, they’re precious and they need to be supported and, sometimes, defended.鈥�