HONOLULU (KHON2) — The University of Hawaii at Manoa introduced its new alumni during its 2024 spring commencement ceremony at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
Families and friends spent their Saturday celebrating their graduate’s achievements in completing a major milestone.
Graduates from the following colleges walked in the 9 a.m. ceremony:
College of Arts, Languages & Letters
College of Natural Sciences
College of Social Sciences
College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources
Hawaiinuikea School of Hawaiian Knowledge
Interdisciplinary Studies
School of Ocean & Earth Science & Technology
Shortly after, the following colleges crossed the stage during the 3:30 p.m. ceremony:
College of Education
College of Engineering
John A. Burns School of Medicine
Nancy Atmospera-Walch School of Nursing, including the Department of Dental Hygiene
School of Architecture
Shidler College of Business
Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health
Some graduates said this has been a long time coming.
“It’s been something that I think a lot of us have been waiting for for a really long time, especially since I think most of us graduated high school during the pandemic,” said graduate Maezel Baria. “So it’s really important and it’s really good to see everyone here.”
Others were excited to graduate from a “great community.”
“A little bittersweet, the bitter part is cause I’m no longer at Manoa, but the sweet part was to create a great community here at Manoa, especially at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources,” explained Cecili Rivera, graduating with Bachelor of Science in Dietetics.
After the ceremony, family and friends gave leis to their graduates in the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex and Les Murakami Stadium.
Graduates from the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community College, Palama-Nui on the Big Island also walked the stage during their commencement ceremonies.
UH Manoa will host several high school graduations beginning next week. Drivers should be prepared for traffic in the area.