Thousands of people gathered at St. Thomas May 18 and 19 to celebrate as more than 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students received their degrees, adding their numbers to the more-than-100,000-strong alumni network.
The weekend kicked off on a beautiful, warm Friday afternoon, as the senior class held a graduation-edition of the March Through the Arches tradition. St. Thomas community members, parents, family, alumni and friends lined the sidewalk leading toward Summit Avenue, applauding as members of the Class of 2018 – appropriately clad in purple T-shirts adorned with the words “Tommies Forever” – made their way from the lower quad through the iconic Arches.
Seniors walk toward Summit Avenue during the 2018 March Through the Arches ceremony for graduating seniors on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
Seniors pose for a group photo with Tommie during the 2018 March Through the Arches ceremony for graduating seniors on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
Tommie the mascot gives high fives to seniors during the 2018 March Through the Arches ceremony for graduating seniors on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
President Julie Sullivan speaks at the kickoff to the 2018 March Through the Arches ceremony for graduating seniors on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
Seniors laugh with friends during the 2018 March Through the Arches ceremony for graduating seniors on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
Seniors walk under the Arches during the 2018 March Through the Arches ceremony for graduating seniors on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
Friends smile during the 2018 March Through the Arches ceremony for graduating seniors on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
Family, staff and faculty celebrate with seniors during the 2018 March Through the Arches ceremony for graduating seniors on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
“It was a ton of fun to walk with my friends who I’ve made over the past four years," senior Conor Kinney said. "When I first went through the arches, I went through with nobody I really knew. Now I got to march with close friends. It was pure joy.”
“It’s bittersweet," senior Roumany Phan said. "Yes, I’m excited to graduate. I think I’m ready to close this chapter and find a new one. I’m still looking for what that chapter’s going to be. I made a lot of memories here. At first, I was going to do three years here and two at the University of Minnesota, but after the first year at St. Thomas, I didn’t want to go anywhere else. I love my friends, the professors and the campus."
“Graduates, the entire St. Thomas community shares your pride on this special day. This is my favorite day of the year!" president Julie Sullivan said. "It is the day we celebrate all you have accomplished and all you have become, as well as look forward with great excitement and anticipation to the next leg of your journeys."
A graduating senior points at friends in the crowd as he crosses the stage to receive his diploma during the 2018 Undergraduate Commencement ceremony in O’Shaughnessy Stadium on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
A graduating senior receives a hug from a family member during the 2018 Undergraduate Commencement ceremony in O’Shaughnessy Stadium on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
Graduating seniors smile and laugh during the 2018 Undergraduate Commencement ceremony in O’Shaughnessy Stadium on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
Faculty walks in led by Engineering Professor and Professor of the Year AnnMarie Thomas during the 2018 Undergraduate Commencement ceremony in O’Shaughnessy Stadium on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
A graduating senior poses for a photo with a friend during the 2018 Undergraduate Commencement ceremony in O’Shaughnessy Stadium on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
A graduating senior poses for a photo with a friend after the 2018 Undergraduate Commencement ceremony in O’Shaughnessy Stadium on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
An overview of the 2018 Undergraduate Commencement ceremony in O’Shaughnessy Stadium on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
A graduating senior raises and arm in celebration after receiving his degree during the 2018 Undergraduate Commencement ceremony in O’Shaughnessy Stadium on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
Members of the St. Thomas class of 2018 gather as they wait to receive their degrees.
St. Thomas graduates walk toward O’Shaughnessy Stadium for commencement.
Students, family, friends, faculty and staff filled O’Shaughnessy Stadium on Saturday for the St. Thomas 2018 commencement ceremony.
“It’s really exciting. I’m ready to move on to the next stage, but I will always have St. Thomas in my heart," said Sarah Schuler ’18, who has accepted a consulting role with Boom Lab in Minneapolis. "I’ve built such great friendships and a great community here. I’m most looking forward to coming back once I’m established a bit more in my career and helping with alumni events and mentoring. Alumni helped me so much while I was here, so I want to pass that on.”
“It’s the last piece of the puzzle. It’s a happy day," said Sebastian Ky '18. "I’m the first in my family to graduate from college, so this is a big step for me and my family.”
“Thank you to the University of St. Thomas for being there for me, supporting me through nights and days that I was sick [during my pregnancy]," she said. "I made it – everything is possible!”
“After my undergraduate degree [in communication and journalism], I started working at the Lunds & Byerlys corporate office in their marketing department. I realized that communication and journalism served me well in the writing world … but an MBA was always on my bucket list," said Bridget Rissmann ’11, ’18 MBA. "Both of my parents received their master’s degree, and [getting a master’s degree] was always a dream of mine.”
Confetti flies over students during the 2018 Graduate Commencement ceremony in O’Shaughnessy Stadium on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
Student pose for a group photo on Monahan Plaza after the 2018 Graduate Commencement ceremony on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
A graduate lifts a smiling child after the 2018 Graduate Commencement ceremony on the St. Paul campus on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
Jules Porter and a fellow student pose for a picture during the 2018 Graduate Commencement ceremony in O’Shaughnessy Stadium on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
A graduate celebrates with family after the 2018 Graduate Commencement ceremony on the St. Paul campus on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
Friends and family of a graduate toss confetti streamers as they celebrate with a graduate after the 2018 Graduate Commencement ceremony on the St. Paul campus on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
Penny George ’95 PsyD, board chair of the George Family Foundation and co-founder of the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing at Allina Health, gives the keynote address during the 2018 Graduate Commencement ceremony in O’Shaughnessy Stadium on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
Students line up to receive their degrees during the 2018 Graduate Commencement ceremony in O’Shaughnessy Stadium on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
A student shakes hands with President Julie Sullivan as she receives her degree during the 2018 Graduate Commencement ceremony in O’Shaughnessy Stadium on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.
Students take a selfie during the 2018 Graduate Commencement ceremony in O’Shaughnessy Stadium on May 18, 2018 in St. Paul.