The Neag School’s Class of 2017 graduates and their guests joined faculty, staff, and administrators this past weekend in celebration of Commencement Weekend, held on the UConn Storrs campus.

The Neag School’s Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony, held Sunday, May 7, featured surprise visits from Jonathans XIII and XIV, who accompanied the nearly 150 graduates in their processional to the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts.

Five Neag School music education majors and Class of 2017 graduates — Noah Fields, Victoria Ioppolo, Alyssa Venora, and Jamie Wisset — sang the national anthem.

Best-selling children’s author Lynda Mullaly Hunt ’88 (ED), ’97 MA, a two-time alumna of the Neag School, delivered the Undergraduate Commencement address. She outlined for graduates from the Neag School’s sport management and teacher education undergraduate programs eight ways in which UConn basketball mirrors life.

“Be brave. You have nothing to gain by playing small,” she said during her remarks. “Quiet confidence — not arrogance — is something people will remember about you for a long time.” She received a warm standing ovation from the audience at Jorgensen.

During the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony, the School also showcased two videos — one featuring alumni, students, and faculty sharing their Neag School experiences, and a second video in which graduating seniors offered personal messages of gratitude to their families, faculty mentors, and friends.

Congratulations,
Neag School Class of 2017!

Find our Commencement video highlights, photo albums, and more here.

Graduates and their guests celebrated afterward during a reception held at the Student Union, where they enjoyed a photo booth and photo opportunities with UConn mascot Jonathan the Husky and Dean Gladis Kersaint.

On Saturday, May 6, Neag School master’s and sixth-year graduates attended a pre-ceremony reception at the Student Union (see photos), followed by the Graduate School Commencement ceremony at Gampel Pavilion, where UConn alum and political analyst Stuart Rothenberg ’72 MA, ’77 Ph.D., delivered the Commencement address.

Graduates from the Neag School doctoral program will celebrate on Monday evening at a pre-ceremony reception held at the Alumni House, followed by the Commencement ceremony at Jorgensen.

In total, more than 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students were awarded UConn degrees this year.

Check out video highlights, photo albums, archived video, and more from the Neag School 2017 Commencement Weekend celebration here.