VIDEO NEWS RELEASE: More than 1,000 graduates at UH Mānoa December commencement
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa(Link to video and sound): https://go.hawaii.edu/Dj5
Contact: news@hawaii.edu, (808) 490-3268
WHAT: The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa––the state public higher education system’s flagship campus––celebrated more than 1,000 students at its 2025 Mid-Year Commencement Ceremony.
WHEN: Saturday, December 20, 2025, 9–11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Stan Sheriff Center, UH Mānoa
WHO: Speakers include Amy Hill (celebrated actress with strong Hawaiʻi ties and a personal connection to UH Mānoa), student speaker Cooper Salomon (Bachelor of Science candidate in Natural Resources and Environmental Management), UH President Wendy Hensel, Interim Provost Vassilis Syrmos, faculty, staff and administrators
MORE INFORMATION:
- Graduates completed undergraduate and advanced degrees and are moving on to professional careers and graduate study.
- UH Mānoa is Hawaiʻi’s only Carnegie R1 research university, ranked among the nation’s leading public universities and in the top 2% worldwide.
- The campus is nationally recognized for strengths in science, health, engineering and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander studies.
- UH Mānoa secured approximately $570 million in research awards this year.
- The university serves a record enrollment of 20,400 students, including 3,294 first-time, degree-seeking freshmen.
Link to video and sound: https://go.hawaii.edu/Dj5
VIDEO (1 minute, 36 seconds):
(Assorted shots of the commencement ceremony)
SOUNDBITES:
Chloe Garcia - UH Mānoa graduate (5 seconds)
“It was surreal. It was amazing. It felt like all the hard work had finally paid off.”
Wendy Hensel - UH President (12 seconds)
“There is no day that I enjoy more than graduation day, and the joy in that room, you can feel it, and people are excited, and they've reached their goals and their accomplishments, and we get the privilege of celebrating with them.”
Kansei Matsuzawa - UH Mānoa graduate/Rainbow Warrior kicker (10 seconds)
“It's been amazing. Hawaiʻi and UH gives me everything, opportunity, joy, and I really enjoyed my time in Hawaiʻi.”