Meet your colleagues who brought Commencement to life

An annual tradition

Among the volunteers was Marisol Corrado, program coordinator in the Office of Research and Partnerships. Before the ceremony began, she was on the field greeting excited graduates, helping them find their seats and answering last-minute questions. Corrado was one of nearly 100 volunteers who supported this year’s event.

Corrado’s first experience helping at a graduation was during her time as a student at San Diego State University. She recalls that watching her friends walk across the stage made the moment feel more real, especially as a first-generation college student. 

That experience stayed with her, and since joining the U of A four years ago, she’s assisted at Commencement every year.

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“There’s so much joy and excitement in the field that the time goes super-fast,” said Corrado. “Getting to make a little difference in somebody's day by bringing joy and kindness makes volunteering worth it.”

From the field, she experienced the Commencement excitement firsthand as families cheered for the graduates and fireworks lit up the night sky. 

The experience has also allowed Corrado to build meaningful connections with employees from across campus she may not have otherwise met. Many of those relationships have grown into lasting friendships. 

For Corrado, volunteering at Commencement is something she looks forward to each year. She’s a self-described helper who lives by advice that children's television host Mr. Rogers said he heard from his mother: “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

“It’s important to realize that you can be a helper in times of joy and celebration,” said Corrado. “You get to be a small part of someone’s very meaningful experience.”

A campuswide effort

Behind the massive celebration are months of planning and coordination with more than 30 units across the university, from Parking and Transportation Services and the University of Arizona Police Department to Facilities Services and the Disability Resource Center.

Before the ceremony, staff and volunteers checked in students, greeted guests and directed entrance lines. Inside the stadium, they distributed water and collected feedback to help improve future celebrations. They also helped faculty, platform members, honorary degree recipients and VIPs put on their regalia.

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“Everyone has a hand in this,” said Celina Andrade, assistant director for Commencement and Ceremonies. “We can't do it without everybody.”

Initial Commencement planning starts as early as July. Event organizers ramp up efforts in January, finalizing vendor agreements and coordinating equipment and logistics such as staging and seating. 

Each year, the team transforms the stadium to accommodate graduates, their guests, speakers and special honorees. This year, that work included setting up 6,000 chairs on the field for graduates. 

Accessibility is essential and integrated into event planning and logistics. Accessible seating and large screens with captioning and American Sign Language interpreters were positioned around the stadium. This allowed attendees the flexibility to sit where they chose, rather than being limited to a single section. Ramps provided easy access to the stage.

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"Good design should be seamless,” said Amanda Kraus, vice president for Student Affairs. “That’s why folks who have participated in Commencement may not recognize how hard this university has worked to make it inclusive because it’s built in.”

While Andrade, Kraus and their teams coordinated stadium setup, Misha Harrison, senior director of experience and strategy with Presidential Events and University Ceremonies, led the team responsible for on-stage production. 

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"We had a large stage party, nearly all with spoken parts, plus singers, mascots and the Color Guard,” said Harrison. “From the control booth, it definitely feels like watching and listening to the conductor at Grand Central Station."

The show team included a showrunner, who directed every aspect of the program from stage movements to graphics, camera feeds, lights and audio, along with two professional stage managers who are U of A alumni and three assistant stage managers who are students in the School of Theatre, Film and Television. 

Together, they they worked with the audiovisual and stage crew to synchronize closing fireworks with music, lights and video.

Creating an unforgettable experience required extensive coordination from dozens of volunteers trained to assist inside and outside the stadium.

More on Commencement

• Watch the Commencement highlights video
• View snapshots from Commencement in the photo gallery
• Visit the Commencement news website to read graduating student spotlights

Watch highlights from 2026 Commencement in the video below.