The University of Dayton expects to confer a record of approximately 2,500 degrees, including an all-time high of approximately 1,600 undergraduate degrees, during commencement ceremonies May 6-7 at University of Dayton Arena.

The ceremony for undergraduate students will be at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, May 7. The University's ceremony for the School of Law will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 6, with the ceremony for doctoral and graduate students to follow at 12:45 p.m. 

The baccalaureate Mass will be held at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6.

All graduation ceremonies and the baccalaureate Mass will be in University of Dayton Arena and will be streamed live at https://graduation.udayton.edu/. Tickets are not required and there are no seating limits. 

The current records for overall and undergraduate degrees awarded at a spring commencement ceremony is 2,157 and 1,582, respectively, set in 2021. For the academic year, which also includes August and December graduates, UD is set to confer approximately 3,700 degrees, which would eclipse the mark of 3,125 also set in 2021. Final numbers will be confirmed in late June.

Among the graduates: 

• Siblings Gabe and Tashana Brown who are graduating from UD's online doctor of education in leadership for organizations program. Gabe started the program before Tashana but landed in the same cohort after a pause. "I had no idea I landed in the same group as her. It just happened and the rest was history. It was great. Having her by my side was very rewarding," said Gabe, ​​program director for the Upward Bound Math-Science program and adjunct professor at Shawnee State University. Younger sister Tashana, a third grade teacher at Notre Dame Elementary in Portsmouth, Ohio, added, "It was such a journey. I really look up to him a lot. We had a couple classes together. We were able to collaborate some. Just being able to have that extra support was pretty special." Both said they are extremely proud of their achievement considering some during high school told them they weren't college material and doubted they would even go to college. "I wanted to show myself, my kids and many of the first-generation students I work with now that I can do it, especially as a first-generation student myself. It's an incredible feeling. Tashana added, "It's indescribable, actually, we've come this far. I've said to my professors that I love teaching so much but they are proof teachers never stop making an impact. The support UD faculty and staff gave us, we couldn't have done it without them." The Browns will graduate during the ceremony at 12:45 p.m. Saturday. 
• The first six graduates of the bachelor of science in nursing program, since it restarted in 2019 as a partnership with Sinclair Community College. In addition to UD's undergraduate ceremony at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, the program will have its first pinning/graduation ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6, in the Kennedy Union west ballroom. "This first cohort has demonstrated resilience and tenacity throughout their time here at UD. I commend their hard work and commitment to their nursing education and am proud to say they are all registered nurses working in healthcare and serving our community. I look forward to watching my new nursing colleagues rise as leaders," said Michelle Cox, director of the program in UD's Department of Health and Sport Science. 
• Many of the undergraduate students who will receive their degrees started their college careers under normal circumstances only to have their worlds turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic in the middle of their second semester.

The University of Dayton will award an honorary doctorate at the undergraduate commencement ceremony to Clayton Mathile, former owner and CEO of The Iams Company whose entrepreneurial vision and philanthropy has had a significant impact on people across southwest Ohio. Read more about Mathile and his honorary degree here.

For information and interviews through Saturday, contact Shawn Robinson, associate director of news and communications, at 937-232-2907 or srobinson1@udayton.edu. Shannon Miller, associate director of news and communications, at smiller6@udayton.edu or 937-823-0432, will be the media contact Sunday, May 7. Media are welcome at graduation ceremonies and the baccalaureate Mass but are not permitted on the floor. Media can get video or photos from the concourse areas provided they do not interfere with spectators. No University administrators will be available for interviews on graduation days. Media are free to approach students after the ceremony and identify themselves as members of the media to request interviews.