Preparing for spring commencement 

Thousands of graduating students will walk out the doors of this campus and enter the world prepared to be the next generation of leaders.

UTRGV prepares to honor these students at its Spring 2025 commencement ceremonies May 16 and 17 at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg.

University Registrar Sofia Almeda described the scale and planning required for commencement, which will span multiple ceremonies.

“We are expecting more than 3,200 students to attend our commencement ceremonies and that includes undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students,” Almeda said. “We do split it by college, so there are multiple ceremonies taking place in Edinburg.”

Psychology senior Eli Luna said he feels “nervous but also excited” about walking the stage.

“It’s a big milestone, and it feels like it came really soon even though it’s been four years,” Luna said.

Social work senior Karina De La Garza said “it still hasn’t hit me that I’m going to be done with school.”

“Whenever I’m on campus and I’m looking around, I’m trying to tell myself to enjoy my life,” De La Garza said. “But I still don’t think it’s going to hit me until I walk across the stage.”

She said she is most proud of her expansion of the House of Fashion club as the director on the Brownsville campus.

“I would say, even though it’s not necessarily something academically or something that has to do with my major, that’s something I’m really proud of because I know that club will continue to exist at the … campus for years to come.”

Luna said, as a university student, he learned how to be a leader. 

“I’ve matured a lot in the last two years,” he said. “I learned how to communicate better, get involved and stay on top of my classes—something I really struggled with in high school. I can actually talk to people now and, even though it’s awkward, everybody feels awkward.”

Almeda explained the personal and institutional pride commencement represents to her.

“For us to be able to not just coordinate commencement but be at commencement and see how proud our students are and how proud their families are, it just makes us that much more proud, as well, to have been a part of their journey in some small way,” the registrar said.

De La Garza said if she could offer advice to herself starting college, it would be to “to relax, to not just be so stressed out” and “to take things at your own pace.”

“You can do the things that you feel that you’re capable of,” she said “… Put yourself out there. Don’t be afraid to talk to people.”

To incoming students, Luna offered some advice: ask for help and do not isolate yourself.

“I was scared to send emails or ask questions when I was a freshman,” he said. “But once I started reaching out and making connections, it changed everything.”

For Almeda and her office, the commencement is “the most rewarding aspect of what we do in support of our students.”

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s all worth it,” she said. “This moment belongs to the students and we’re honored to help make it happen.”