Et cetera : Kirkwood Commencement Set for May 17

Kirkwood Community College will hold its 2025 Commencement ceremony at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in downtown Cedar Rapids on Saturday, May 17, beginning at 10 a.m. More than 2,300 students are expected to graduate with approximately 650 students taking part in the ceremony.

A total of 3,525 credit degrees, diplomas and certificates are expected to be awarded in the current academic year. The number includes students who have applied for graduation, already been granted credentials or will complete them by the end of the summer term. Among them, 720 students will be earning more than one credential.

Various speakers will make remarks at the ceremony. Kirkwood Board of Trustees Chair Tracy Pearson will welcome the audience on behalf of the college and introduce Kirkwood President Dr. Kristie Fisher, who will give her remarks to the graduates. Jacki Brucher Moore, president of the Kirkwood Faculty Association will speak on behalf of faculty. Kirkwood men's basketball player Lucas Lueth, who graduated with an Associate of Arts degree at the end of the fall term, will be the student speaker.

The ceremony is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required for attendees. For those unable to attend, a link to the livestream of the event will available on www.kirkwood.edu.

This is the 59th graduation for Kirkwood. In its founding year, 1966-67, the college had just 199 credit students enrolled at the college.

For more information, go to www.kirkwood.edu/graduation.

*****EVENT*****

What: Kirkwood Community College Commencement

When: Saturday, May 17, at 10 a.m.

Where: The Alliant Energy PowerHouse, 370 1st Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids

With more than 140 majors and programs, Kirkwood Community College boasts 16,000 annual college-credit students, while maintaining one of the lowest tuitions in the state. All degree-seeking students are eligible for federal financial aid and the college offers more than $3 million in scholarships each year to students from all walks of life. Kirkwood is a convenient, innovative and visionary educational leader that strives to remain affordable and accessible.