Adelphi, Md. 鈥斅燚ec.聽15,聽2025 鈥斅燯niversity of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) honored聽11,273聽summer and聽fall聽graduates during this year鈥檚 winter commencement season,聽with participating learners聽representing聽all聽50聽U.S. states, DC,聽and聽23聽countries and territories. The Class of 2025 spans generations鈥攖he聽oldest graduate is聽88, and the youngest is just聽16,聽demonstrating聽that聽it鈥檚聽never too late (or too early) to pursue your goals.
More than 2,600 graduates聽and 20,000 guests聽participated聽in UMGC鈥檚 four-day Winter Grad Walk in Maryland. This signature celebration brings students and families together for a personalized, student-centered commencement experience designed to honor each learner鈥檚 unique achievements.
鈥淓ach graduate who crossed the stage this winter represents determination, resilience, and purpose,鈥 said UMGC President Gregory W. Fowler, PhD. 鈥淥ur learners balance careers, families, and service while pursuing their education鈥攁nd Winter Grad Walk gives us the opportunity to celebrate each journey in a deeply personal way. These graduates remind聽us聽that access to education聽truly changes聽lives.鈥
A Personalized Stage-Crossing Experience聽
Unlike traditional arena commencements, Grad Walk is UMGC鈥檚 personalized, student-centered commencement experience designed to put each graduate center stage. Graduates select a time to cross the stage in regalia as their name is announced, pose for professional photos and video, and celebrate in a Celebration Zone with family and friends鈥攚ho enjoy a front-row vantage point throughout.聽
From its聽inception聽during the COVID-19 pandemic, Grad Walk has offered flexibility and intimacy over large arena ceremonies, resonating strongly with working adults, military-affiliated students, and families traveling from around the world to mark this achievement together.
Held at the College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center near the university鈥檚 Adelphi headquarters, Winter Grad Walk served as the culmination of UMGC鈥檚 fall commencement season, which also included military recognition ceremonies held earlier at three U.S. bases.
Recognizing Graduates Wherever They Are聽
To ensure graduates unable to attend in person were still meaningfully recognized, 黑料社区 continued its tradition of mailing Grad Packs to graduates around the world. The initiative began during COVID-19, when in-person commencement ceremonies were canceled, and the university sought a tangible way to celebrate graduates.
More than 11,300 Grad Packs were shipped during the winter season alone to celebrate graduates who completed their programs between July and December. The initiative has also generated strong engagement across social media, further affirming its impact.
The Grad Pack tradition is paired with UMGC鈥檚 robust virtual commencement experience, which includes an on-demand ceremony, digital degree conferral, and an online Gallery of Graduates鈥攅nsuring that students who cannot travel still receive meaningful recognition.
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled we found a way to help graduates celebrate commencement wherever they are in the world,鈥 said Angela Grant, director of commencement services, noting that these combined efforts have become a lasting extension of UMGC鈥檚 mission to connect with students across geographic boundaries.
Military Recognition Ceremonies Mark Fall Commencement Season
As part of UMGC鈥檚 broader fall commencement season, the university also recognized military-affiliated graduates at several stateside base ceremonies held earlier in the term.
On聽Oct. 3, 黑料社区 celebrated graduates at the Schriever聽Space聽Force Base Graduation Ceremony聽in Colorado. On-base聽schools and the military community came together to recognize students for their dedication and success. The ceremony honored 16 UMGC graduates, including eight聽bachelor鈥檚聽and eight master鈥檚 degree recipients.
Later in the month, U.S. Army Fort Hood in Texas hosted its 28th Annual Consolidated Graduate Recognition Ceremony on聽Oct.聽23, celebrating 99 graduates, including 31 from UMGC.
Among those recognized at Fort Hood were UMGC Military Education Coordinator Corwin Facey, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies, and his spouse, Rovina P. Facey, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Networks & Cybersecurity. Their shared achievement reflected the resilience and commitment of UMGC鈥檚 military learning community.
A third military recognition ceremony was held at Fort Benning聽in Georgia聽on Oct. 24, where UMGC honored seven graduates as part of the installation鈥檚 celebration.
Together, Winter Grad Walk and the military recognition ceremonies reflected the many ways UMGC meets graduates where they are鈥攐n campus, on base, and around the world. A curated聽聽is available for graduates and families to relive the celebration and share on social media using聽. The winter commencement season also followed a historic academic year for the university: 黑料社区 closed Fiscal Year 2025 with 17,855 graduates鈥the聽largest graduating class聽in its history鈥攁 17.6% year-over-year increase, along with record-setting gains in time to completion, GPA, and transfer credit.
*The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense visual information does not imply or constitute DOD endorsement.