UIW Celebrates the Spring Class of 2017

May 3, 2019

UIW Celebrates the Spring Class of 2017
1300 students to be conferred degrees

SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) will confer degrees to 1300 graduates at three commencement ceremonies this month. A point of pride at UIW is how our students embrace the core value of SERVICE.  This graduating Class of 2017 completed a total of 55,682 hours of service in the community providing an economic impact totaling $1,311,867 in volunteer service hours.  It is our hope that they will continue this legacy of service as concerned and enlightened citizens in our society. 

The spring commencement schedule is as follows:

  • Rosenberg School of Optometry & School of Physical Therapy;
    7 p.m., Friday, May 12, UIW Alice P. McDermott Convocation Center
  • Feik School of Pharmacy, Master of Biomedical Sciences &
    Master of Arts in Administration;
    10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 13, UIW Alice P. McDermott Convocation Center
  • Undergraduate, Graduate and Ph.D Candidates;
    6 p.m., Saturday, May 13,
    Joe & Harry Freeman Coliseum;  (3201 E. Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78219)

The UIW professional programs will graduate in two ceremonies.  One will be held Friday evening and the other on Saturday morning from the Alice P. McDermott Convocation Center located on the university campus. The professional programs will graduate more than 284 students who will move on to serve communities across the country. Saturday evening’s commencement will honor students earning their bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

The 2017 Alumni of Distinction for Professional Achievement Service is Sam Sanders ‘07. Sanders is a reporter and podcast host at NPR. Most recently, as a key member of NPR’s election unit, he covered the intersection of culture, pop culture and politics in the 2016 election. He was also one of the original cohosts of NPR’s Politics Podcast, which launched in 2015. Sanders joined NPR in 2009 as a Kroc Fellow, and since then has worn many hats within the organization, including field producer and breaking news reporter.

Sanders graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School in 2009 with a Master’s degree in public policy, with a focus on media and politics. He received his undergraduate degree from UIW in 2007 with a double major in political science and music. While at Incarnate Word, Sanders was president of UIW’s Black Student Association and Student Government Association.  He was also a member of the Incarnate Word Jazz Band.

Admission to commencement ceremonies is by ticket only. Commencement will also be broadcast online. Live coverage of the events will begin 15 minutes prior to the event at http://uiwtv.org/commencement/.

A Baccalaureate Mass will be held for all graduates at 4 p.m., Friday, May 12 in the Alice P. McDermott Convocation Center on the UIW campus. Processional and recessional music for both events is performed by the San Antonio Pipes and Drums.

Parking will be available on the UIW campus with overflow parking at AT&T located between Allensworth & Groveland and at 4100 Broadway. Limited handicapped/ADA parking will be available in the area directly in front of the Barshop Natatorium.

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MEDIA CONTACT:    Media interested in covering the ceremonies should contact Margaret Garcia, associate director communications and marketing, (210) 422-4052 or (210) 829-6001, mlgarci2@uiwtx.edu