UHCL Alumni Relations Soaring Hawks sendoff celebrates spring graduates
Just ahead of University of Houston-Clear Lake’s spring 2023 commencement, graduating students and their families and friends were invited to a drive-thru Soaring Hawks celebration in the circular drive in front of the Bayou Building. Over 400 alumni-to-be registered for the event, organized by UH-Clear Lake’s Director of Alumni Relations Kendra Hakanson.
“Students are very busy, especially those who are looking forward to commencement in less than two weeks,” Hakanson said. “We were looking for a way to congratulate our graduates and welcome them into the Alumni Association in a fun and easily accessible way.”
Since opening its doors almost 50 years ago, over 78,000 people have walked across the stage to receive a diploma. Now, the university offers over 90 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. This semester, 1,269 students have applied for graduation—the university’s highest-ever number of graduates in a semester.
“Our hope is that these new graduates know that their connection to their university does not end when they have walked across the stage,” Hakanson said. “It’s the beginning of a lifelong relationship as an alumnus, and we hope the ‘swag bag’ we gave each soaring Hawk is a reminder of that. Staying connected to UHCL can look different for everyone, and our goal is to make enough opportunities available so there’s plenty to choose from.”
She said alumni are often asked to engage with students through classroom speaking, mentoring, internships and even hiring newly-graduated students into their businesses. “We also like to see our alumni volunteering, nominating fellow alumni for awards, or serving on committees,” she said. “We hope to see our new graduates back on campus very soon.”
For more information about UHCL's spring commencement, go online.