Caps Off to Over 2,000 New Alumni at UNO’s May 2025 Commencement

On Friday, May 16, more than 2,000 Mavericks turned over a new tassel as they crossed the stage to begin their next journey. View the grads list.

🎓 What’s New:

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) celebrated the achievements of over 2,000 graduates at Commencement on Friday, May 16, 2025, held at Baxter Arena in Omaha, Nebraska. Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, presided over the 9 A.M. and 3 P.M. ceremonies, where graduates received their degrees and officially joined the UNO alumni family.

🔢 By the Numbers:

• 2,009 Mavericks
• 1,473 undergraduate degrees
• 536 graduate-level degrees (13 doctoral, 12 educational specialists, and 482 master’s degrees)
• 29 graduate certificates and 37 undergraduate certificates.
• 616 first generation students
• 23 countries and 35 U.S. states.

💡 Why it Matters:

Each ceremony was a celebration of dedication, resilience, and hard work. These new alumni carry the skills and drive to make a lasting impact in their fields and communities. Most stay close to home, with 81% living in Nebraska one year after graduation, and 67% are still here five years later. This gives UNO the highest retention rate in the state.

📹 Catch the Action:

For those who couldn’t attend in person, both ceremonies are available for on-demand viewing on the UNO Commencement website. Friends and family can relive the moment as graduates crossed the stage, and the confetti fell in Baxter Arena.

🗯 What They’re Saying:

Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA: "Graduates, today marks a pivotal moment in your lives and is one of my favorite days of the year. As Chancellor, I stand before you with immense pride, celebrating your remarkable journey and achievements. Throughout your time here, you have honed your skills, expanded your knowledge, and forged lasting relationships. As a first-generation college student, I understand many of your journeys. You have faced challenges head-on, pushed through when others said you couldn’t, and have grown into individuals poised to make a mark on the world."

Terrence “Bud” Crawford, Keynote Speaker: “We all have greatness in us. When we try to be like other people, it alters our greatness. Just be real, be true to yourself, and keep working. You control your own destiny. You get to determine your greatness. You have everything you need to be a champion.”

Watch Bud's keynote address

Ceremony Breakdown

9 A.M.:

• College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)
• College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS)
• College of Engineering (UNL)
• Keynote Speaker: Terence “Bud” Crawford, proud Omaha native and four-division world titleholder

3 P.M.:

• College of Business Administration (CBA)
• College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS)
• College of Information Science & Technology (IS&T)
• College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media (CFAM)
• Keynote Speaker: Terence “Bud” Crawford, proud Omaha native and four-division world titleholder

Student Speakers

Moolaweh Soe, B.S. in Molecular & Biomedical Biology and B.A. in English (CAS)9 A.M. Ceremony

Moolaweh Soe shared her journey as a first-generation immigrant who came to Omaha at age 6 after being born in a refugee camp in Thailand. She pursued dual degrees in science and English to combine her passion for research and storytelling. During her speech, she credited UNO’s supportive community, including the Honors Program and scholarships, for helping her excel as a student researcher and leader. After graduation, she plans to continue her work in public health and prepare for medical school, with the goal of serving refugee and displaced communities as a physician-scientist.

Git Gatluak, B.S. in Business Administration (CBA), 2 P.M. Ceremony

Git Gatluak, one of ten siblings in a family that immigrated from Sudan, reflected on being a first-generation college graduate. At UNO he embraced leadership roles, notably as a peer mentor in the Durango Advancement and Support Hub (DASH) program, where he helped incoming students find their footing in college. He spoke about how UNO’s welcoming, diverse environment and the support of faculty and staff were key to his success. After graduation, Git plans to combine his business education with his passion for service by becoming a pastor with the Salvation Army to uplift his community.

Special Recognitions

• Chancellor’s Medal: Lucy Morrison – A professor of English who for the past decade has led UNO’s Honors Program and the Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships. Morrison has mentored hundreds of students to maximize their educational opportunities, spearheading innovations in the Honors curriculum and guiding many Mavericks to prestigious national awards.

• Alumni Achievement Award: Tobi Mathauser – A UNO alumna and the President and CEO of Goodwill Industries serving Eastern Nebraska and Southwest Iowa. Mathauser began her career with Goodwill in 2006 and rose through the ranks to lead the organization’s day-to-day operations and mission programs. In addition to overseeing Goodwill’s retail and community services, she remains active in Omaha’s civic life through various leadership roles.

• Alumni Achievement Award: Eartha Johnson – A UNO alumna and CEO of LegalWATCH, a corporate training and consulting firm she founded in 1997 to help companies prevent lawsuits and compliance issues. Johnson leveraged her experience as an attorney to educate business leaders nationwide on risk management and liability prevention.

• Keynote Speaker: Terence “Bud” Crawford – A proud Omaha native and undefeated four-division world champion boxer. Crawford made history as the first male boxer to hold undisputed titles in two weight classes during the modern four-belt era. Outside of the boxing ring, he co-founded the B&B Sports Academy in North Omaha to provide free boxing and fitness programs for local youth, and his charitable outreach extends to communities in Africa as well. Crawford’s dedication to uplifting others, both locally and globally, embodies the Maverick spirit of service and perseverance.

What’s Next

The class of 2025 now joins a network of more than 125,000 Maverick alumni around the world, including thousands of proud alumni in the Omaha area. As these new graduates begin careers, serve their communities, or continue their education, they carry forward UNO’s tradition of excellence. Wherever their journeys lead, they will forever be part of the Maverick family – once a Maverick, always a Maverick.