UW Tacoma honors nearly 900 at Commencement

UW Tacoma celebrated 891 graduates in the Class of 2008 at its 18th annual Commencement ceremony Friday, June 13 in the Tacoma Dome.

More than 600 graduating students participated in the ceremony. The Chancellor's Medal for academic achievement was awarded to Heather Wait, and Michael Phillips, chairman of Russell Investment Company, delivered the keynote address. Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science graduate Arabie Jaloway was the student speaker.

Chancellor Patricia Spakes congratulated the graduates and their families for their hard work.

"Today's event gives us an opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of our graduates, to congratulate them on their achievements and to recognize the tremendous commitment each has made to expanding his or her knowledge," she said.

UW President Mark Emmert, who graduated from Fife High School, Green River Community College and the University of Washington, told the graduates that their education would transform their lives.

"If this young kid from Fife can become president of one of the world's great research universities, then for you, too, the sky's the limit."