UC graduates ready to celebrate

UC graduates ready to celebrate

UC will recognize more than 2,600 graduates in two ceremonies at Fifth Third Arena

Students at the University of Cincinnati had a year to remember in research discoveries, academic accomplishments and other accolades.

Their achievements will be celebrated Friday at fall commencement in two ceremonies at Fifth Third Arena.

The doctoral hooding ceremony begins at 9 a.m. with the doors opening at 7:30 a.m. The second ceremony recognizing undergraduates and master's degree recipients is 3 p.m. with doors opening at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are required for both. The arena allows only clear bags. The ceremony will be streamed live on UC's commencement page as well as at Nippert Stadium and in Tangeman University Center's cinema and atrium.

If it's your first time at a commencement, check out these helpful tips.

UC will celebrate fall commencement with two ceremonies Friday at Fifth Third Arena. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC

About the fall class of 2025

UC will recognize 2,628 graduates earning 2,639 degrees, according to preliminary numbers from UC's Office of Institutional Research. Some graduates earn multiple degrees.

UC will award 277 associate degrees, 1,211 bachelor's degrees, 993 master's degrees, 153 doctoral degrees and five professional degrees. About 42% of degrees are in the fields of science, technology, engineering, math or medicine.

Matthew Bauer, UC Online graduate

Students hail from 61 countries on six of the seven continents, as far away as Australia and Madagascar, and 47 states. But nearly three-quarters of fall grads are from Ohio.

The youngest grad is 19; the oldest is 68. About 15% of graduates are first-generation college students. And 104 students are U.S. veterans or dependents of veterans.

Eight grads also celebrate their birthday Friday.

Matthew Bauer and his daughter, Emma, will celebrate their graduation together at UC's fall commencement. Photo/Provided

Reaching a milestone

Emma Bauer of Lebanon, Ohio, will give the student address in which she will talk about the support she received from her parents and siblings. Bauer earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from UC's College of Arts and Sciences.

"I'm grateful to my parents that they made our childhoods an incredible experience. We're all super close and I love it," she said.

Her father, Matthew Bauer, will have one of the best seats in the arena to watch her walk across the stage. He is among the fall 2025 graduates, earning a bachelor's degree in technical and applied studies through UC Online.

"​Graduating with Emma is so special to me," he said. "I would have never have dreamt that I would be getting my degree at the same time as my daughter given the very different paths that we took to get here."

President Neville Pinto gives congratulations to a graduate on stage at Fifth Third Arena. UC will celebrate fall commencement Dec. 12 at Fifth Third Arena. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC

Matthew Bauer enrolled at UC out of high school, but family obligations took priority. Today, he is a software engineer.

"For me, it was a 'finish what you started' type thing," he said. "I always wanted to go back and get my degree, but now to be doing that with Emma makes it even that much more special. Emma has worked so hard to get here, and we couldn't be more proud of her."

​Emma Bauer's path to commencement had its own challenges, she said. Like many students, she worked several jobs to help put herself through school, including a co-op at Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.

"There were times it was hard finding a balance between work and school," she said.

But Bauer said she met a good group of friends at UC who helped her carry on.

"At UC, they have been very supportive through everything. There were definitely times I struggled and it was hard to keep that motivation going," she said.

Bauer said perseverance is one of the many valuable skills college teaches.

"Don't take the hard days for granted. You need that," she said. "You need the struggle so you can look back at the end of the day and say, 'I did it.' That time is going to fly by. So make it count."

Featured image at top: UC will celebrate fall commencement Friday at Fifth Third Arena. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC

What to know about commencement

UC will recognize more than 2,600 graduates at fall commencement Friday at Fifth Third Arena. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC

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