UC's summer grads take giant leap into future
The Bicentennial summer commencement recognizes the 50th anniversary of the moon landing by UC's Armstrong
The University of Cincinnati honored 1,945 graduates Saturday at its summer commencement at Fifth Third Arena in front of thousands of their family and friends.
President Neville Pinto urged the graduates to be "Boldly Bearcat," wherever their futures take them.
Pinto noted that UC's 200th anniversary coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing and the first moon walk by Neil Armstrong, who would leave NASA to teach aerospace engineering at UC.
Pinto recalled watching the historic moment on TV with his father as a child.
"It was a time like no other for humanity," he said. "And my greatest anxiety as an 11 year old was would they be able to return to Earth?"
Of course, that mission was a huge success. And Pinto urged UC's graduates, too, to step into the unknown with courage and conviction.
"Like Armstrong and his crewmates, you leave behind a world of the familiar. If you feel worry and trepidation, it is understandable," he said. "Graduates, your new adventure may not take you to the moon, but it will be uniquely yours. And it will be bold in the way that only you can make it."
UC President Neville Pinto addresses graduates during the Bicentennial summer commencement at Fifth Third Arena. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services
The summer class of 2019 features 242 first-generation college graduates, 92 military veterans and 53 from Cincinnati Public Schools.
The graduates come from 44 countries and 47 states. Ohio, too, is well represented with summer graduates hailing from 71 of its 88 counties.
Saturday's youngest graduate, earning an associate’s degree, is just 18. The oldest graduate, who was hooded with a doctoral degree, is 67.
“The 2019 summer class represents students from near and far who are ready to share their unique talents with the world,” said UC Provost Kristi Nelson. “Today marks a new beginning as each graduate transitions from student to alum, and embarks on a journey to create their ideal future utilizing knowledge and skills developed through their UC experience.”
UC graduates celebrate at UC's Bicentennial summer commencement. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services
UC College of Medicine graduate Courtney Giannini is hooded by her father, Dr. Edward Giannini, at commencement. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services
Pinto recognized UC College of Medicine graduate Courtney Giannini, a recipient of the UC Presidential Medal of Graduate Student Excellence. The award is given to graduate students who exemplify scholarship, leadership, character and service.
Giannini received a doctorate in epidemiology on Saturday.
UC's graduating class celebrated the opening of UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub, the university’s front door to business opportunities and a startup engine for students, faculty and staff. They witnessed the $87 million renovation of the Fifth Third Arena, funded by private donations. They cheered Major League Soccer team FC Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium. And some of them no doubt stayed in the new Marian Spencer Residence Hall.
As alumni, they know UC will continue to make them proud with the opening this year of the new $120 million Lindner College of Business and the new $61 million Health Sciences Building in UC’s College of Allied Health Sciences.
In his address to graduates, UC Board of Trustees member William Portman III recognized the late Marian Spencer, a UC alumna, former Cincinnati city councilwoman and a civil rights icon who successfully led the effort to end racial discrimination at Coney Island in the 1950s and to desegregate Cincinnati Public Schools.
UC and the Greater Cincinnati community paid tribute to Spencer at a memorial service Saturday at Fifth Third Arena.
"Mrs. Spencer was a woman who lived her entire life as a passionate change-agent," Portman said, urging graduates to follow her esteemed example.
UC last year dedicated a new residence hall in her name: Marian Spencer Hall. Spencer was the honored recipient of UC’s William Howard Taft Medal for Notable Achievement in 2018.
Featured image at top: University of Cincinnati graduates celebrate UC's Bicentennial summer commencement by throwing their mortar boards in the air outside Fifth Third Arena. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services
UC College of Engineering and Applied Science graduates hold up their diplomas during UC's Bicentennial summer commencement at Fifth Third Arena. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services
A UC graduate with a service dog accepts congratulations from UC President Neville Pinto during commencement. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services
Thousands of family and friends gathered inside Fifth Third Arena for UC's Bicentennial summer commencement. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services
UC President Neville Pinto congratulates a UC student on crutches who is accepting her diploma during summer commencement at Fifth Third Arena. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services
A UC graduate smiles at commencement. Photo/Ravenna Rutledge/UC Creative Services
UC students celebrate at summer commencement at Fifth Third Arena. Photo/Ravenna Rutledge/UC Creative Services
A UC student smiles while walking to accept his diploma at UC's Bicentennial summer commencement at Fifth Third Arena. Photo/Ravenna Rutledge/UC Creative Services
A UC student walks during summer commencement at Fifth Third Arena. UC conferred 1,945 degrees on Saturday. Photo/Ravenna Rutledge/UC Creative Services
UC students celebrate summer commencement at Fifth Third Arena. Photo/Ravenna Rutledge/UC Creative Services
UC graduates pose for photos at the Bicentennial summer commencement at Fifth Third Arena. Photo/Ravenna Rutledge/UC Creative Services
UC graduates hold hands during the processional at UC's Bicentennial summer commencement at Fifth Third Arena. Photo/Ravenna Rutledge/UC Creative Services
A UC student smiles during the Bicentennial summer commencement at Fifth Third Arena. Photo/Ravenna Rutledge/UC Creative Services
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