All Hail to Thee
UNH Commencement began its new normal this year, as nearly 3,000 undergrads and graduate students walked across the stage on Memorial Field during five different ceremonies. They shook hands with their dean, provost or president, slowed down for a snapshot and embarked on what their next adventure might be out in the real world.
The ceremonies, organized by UNH’s Alumni Relations team with input and support from campus partners, represented the continuation of a new tradition. Rather than host one university-wide ceremony in Wildcat Stadium, commencement was held over three days. The university made the change for several logistical and cost-savings reasons, but the biggest benefit is for families in the audience, who no longer have to show up several hours ahead of time to make sure they get a seat, and for graduates, who now get to hear their names read individually and walk across stage to receive their diplomas.
Martin Kimani ’96, Kenya’s representative to the United Nations, was this year’s keynote speaker. (See a profile of Kimani and the message he shared with graduates here)
A common thread through all the events was a sense of pride on the part of Wildcat families, and the sense of accomplishment — and a bit of nostalgia already beginning — from the graduates themselves.
Anna Jabar-Omoyeni watched her son, Osho, cross the stage with a great sense of pride and gratitude. Osho, she said, was fortunate to be recruited to play football at UNH and receive a scholarship.
“Today is a wonderful marking of my son’s hard work and his dedication, not only to football, but also to his grades and schooling.
I can’t even put into words, as a single mom, how much it means to me that my son has been able to achieve this,” said Jabar-Omoyeni, noting that her daughter, also in attendance, recently graduated from Howard University. “For them to have this experience of going to college, coming out debt-free, enriching their lives, and setting the foundation for their future … I can’t even tell you, don’t get me crying.”
Happy tears were free flowing, for sure. “My family and friends from home are here. If I see them, I’m going to cry. My dad told me he’s going to sob,” said Madison Cusick-Howat ’22, communication science and disorder major. “I’m nervous, it’s definitely bittersweet today. Four years goes by so fast.”
Her classmate Sophie Czapla ’22 agreed. “I’m having a lot of mixed emotions, I’m nervous, but I’m excited for my future, but I’m sad to leave my friends,” she said. She encourages the next class of graduating seniors to enjoy their last year in college: “Be proud for getting this far, it’s a huge accomplishment. We should all be proud of ourselves.”
Watch videos of full ceremonies and highlight reels from each event at youtube.com/c/unh. See and download photos of Commencement Weekend and all the Class of 2022 events at flickr.com/photos/unh/albums
