UA Class of 2018 Was Ready for Its Close-Up on the Big Day

Friends Christian Oropeza, who graduated in industrial engineering, and Raul Moraga, who graduated in civil engineering, will begin their careers this summer. Oropeza will work for Raytheon and Moraga for M3 Engineering, both based in Tucson.
Marcus Holt, a business management student, takes a selfie by the UA seal with friends Alexis Karlin, a marketing graduate from New Jersey; Brianna Celez, a public policy and management graduate; and Sydnie Jones, who completed degrees in communication an
Savannah Stehman, graduating with a degree in marketing, poses with friends Lanre Akomolafe, a computer science graduate, and Amanda Emergy, a marketing graduate. Stehman will move to Phoenix to work for the Phoenix Suns. Akomolafe will move to Seattle to
It's showtime! The UA's 154th Commencement is about to begin.
Monique Harvey, a public health graduate, plans on moving to Colorado to work with the Upward Bound program in Boulder.
Customized mortarboards are a must for Rachel Radeka, a public health graduate going to nursing school; Sammi Meyer, a microbiology graduate headed to pharmacy school; and Haley Evans, a microbiology graduate planning to become a pathologist's assistant.
Kailyn Elizabeth Toussaint , who graduated with a bachelor's degree in musical theater, leads the stadium in a rousing rendition of the national anthem.
The screen calls for noise, and this merry group of graduates supplies some added volume at Commencement.
Rachelle Pilapil, a graduate in criminal justice, and Rachel Zaner, a dance major, embrace at Commencement.
Active, reserve and veteran military personnel stand during the ceremony to be recognized.
Ray Mabus begins his keynote address to the Class of 2018.
Maya Wallace, an agricultural technology, management and education graduate from Tucson, plans to attend graduate school in the fall. Her mortarboard is decorated with the finishing command she uses with her trained border collies at home.
A group of Native American students celebrate their graduation from the UA.
Jesus Gaurdado of Los Angeles, who graduated with a degree in accounting, waves so that his family can find him amid a sea of blue robes in Arizona Stadium.
UA President Robert C. Robbins keeps the 90-minute program moving from the Commencement stage.
Professional and graduate students rise to be conferred degrees by UA President Robert C. Robbins.
Dr. Robert C. Robbins, participating in his first Commencement as UA president, welcomes the crowd to Arizona Stadium.
Friends Ciara Valencia, who graduated in political science, and Emily James, a public health graduate, are framed by the fireworks display that traditionally concludes the ceremony.
Former UA basketball player Larry Demic, a graduate in general studies, has been in the corporate world for 30 years and currently works for Konica Minolta in Los Angeles. He completed his degree online.
Michelle Stephanie Celeste I and Michelle Stephanie Celeste II, identical twins from Las Vegas, sit with their friend Rizalyn Delgado . All three studied online, graduating with doctorates in nursing practice.

University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins conferred about 5,900 degrees on students in the Class of 2018, including bachelor's degrees, master's/specialist degrees, doctorates, juris doctor degrees, medical degrees and doctorates in pharmacy. About 4,500 graduates and 40,000 guests attended the UA's 154th Commencement on a warm and breezy Friday night in Arizona Stadium. The keynote address was delivered by Ray Mabus, former secretary of the Navy, governor of Mississippi and U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

For a last look at Commencement, here are some of the best images captured by photographer John de Dios during a special afternoon and evening on campus.

May 16, 2018