USF to celebrate its largest-ever graduating class

May 19, 2017

The University of Sioux Falls will award 481 total degrees on Sunday, May 21 at the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science, which is its largest-ever graduating class. The graduate commencement ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. and undergraduate ceremony at 2:30 p.m.

This breaks down to 330 undergraduate students and 151 graduate students.

Commencement addresses at both ceremonies will be given by former USF President Mark Benedetto, who retired earlier this year after 20 years of service to the University, from June 1997 to February 2017. 

For the first time ever at the undergraduate ceremony, a student will have the honor of addressing the graduating class. Alecia Martinez of Sibley, Iowa, who has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies and Theatre, will speak. Martinez is graduating from the University of Sioux Falls Honors Program with Summa Cum Laude honors.

In addition, USF will honor Inge Auerbacher with an honorary doctorate. Auerbacher is a Holocaust survivor and first visited the University in the fall of 2014 at the invitation of USF student Correena Spangler. She graciously returned a year later for USF’s production of I Never Saw Another Butterfly—a play centering around the heartbreaking realities of the Terezin Concentration Camp. Her presence at USF and her willingness to share her story of hope and courage has been a cherished gift to the USF community.

USF carries on its tradition of presenting graduates with towels reminiscent of the Biblical story in John 13 where Jesus washed Peter’s feet. The towels serve as reminders to graduates that along with a diploma from a distinctively Christian University comes a commission to serve. 

Commencement details:

  • Graduate Commencement – Ceremony at 10 a.m., doors open at 9 a.m. for seating
  • Undergraduate Commencement – Ceremony at 2:30 p.m., doors open at 1:30 p.m. for seating
  • Ceremonies will take place at the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science, 301 S. Main Ave. No tickets required.

Families and friends unable to attend Sunday’s ceremonies in person can live stream commencement on the University of Sioux Falls YouTube channel.

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