UAB President Joseph F. Volker, left, presents a diploma to one of UAB’s first graduates during a ceremony held June 7, 1970. More than 478 students matriculated during the evening ceremony; Ronald T. Acton received a doctorate in microbiology, becoming the first person to receive a degree from UAB, and Volker received the university’s first honorary degree.
This weekend, UAB will host its first in-person commencement ceremonies since fall 2019 outdoors in Legion Field April 30-May 1. A total of 8,556 degrees will be awarded this spring; 1,951 graduates are registered to walk. All 2020 graduates and spring 2021 graduates were invited to participate; approximately 375 students who graduated in 2020 are walking in these ceremonies.
The graduate ceremony will be at 2 p.m. April 30; the Graduate School will confer the university’s highest degrees on 98 students from 17 states and eight countries representing 27 disciplines.
The first undergraduate ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education will be at 9:30 a.m. May 1, with all other schools at 3:30 p.m.