Winter Commencement Celebrated

More than 4,700 UMD students received bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees yesterday at the campus-wide 2018 winter commencement ceremony.

Former U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr., a visiting professor at the University of Maryland, was the main speaker. King, who led the U.S. Department of Education under President Barack Obama, is now president and CEO of The Education Trust, a nonprofit that works to close opportunity and achievement gaps. He asked graduates to ask put their educations to work to fight for a more just society.

"To build a more just future," he said, "I’d like to suggest that you embrace a few key attitudes essential to engaged citizenship: Be informed. Be engaged. Be open. And be of service."

Rehan Staton, a UMD undergraduate who worked for a sanitation company while studying for his history degree, addressed the graduates as well.

Individual college and school ceremonies take place across campus today.