University of Maryland University College (UMUC) will celebrate its 2018 stateside commencement with three separate ceremonies this weekend at the Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland, attended by approximately 3,000 of the estimated 12,300 students worldwide receiving degrees. Leaders from government and the community will provide keynote addresses at the three ceremonies.

Mike Miller, president of the Maryland Senate, will deliver the keynote speech at the morning commencement on Saturday, May 12 and Catherine Pugh, Mayor of Baltimore City will address graduates in the afternoon. Broadcast Journalist Maureen Bunyan will speak at the third ceremony, which will be held on Sunday afternoon, May 13.

In addition. each year the university selects members of the graduating class who represent the special attributes of UMUC students to speak on behalf of their fellow graduates. The Class of 2018 student speakers are Rhonda Singletary, Bachelor of Science; Akia Martin, Bachelor of Science; U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Timothy French, Associate of Arts.

UMUC Stateside Commencement Ceremonies:

Saturday, May 12, 9 a.m., Xfinity Center, College Park

• Keynote speaker: Mike Miller, president of the Maryland Senate
• Student speaker: Rhonda Singletary, Bachelor of Science

Saturday, May 12, 3:30 p.m., Xfinity Center, College Park

• Keynote speaker: Catherine Pugh, Mayor of Baltimore City
• Student speaker: Akia Martin, Bachelor of Science

Sunday, May 13, 3:30 p.m., Xfinity Center, College Park

• Keynote speaker: Maureen Bunyan, broadcast journalist and former WJLA-TV news anchor in Washington, D.C.
• Student speaker: U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Timothy French, Associate of Arts

The three stateside ceremonies will be available for viewing live via webcasts. To access the webcasts, visit www.umuc.edu/commencement at the time of the ceremony.

UMUC also held commencement ceremonies for military personnel and their dependents at installations around the world (Tokyo, April 7; Okinawa, April 14; South Korea, April 21; Europe, April 28.) A ceremony will be held on Guam, May 12.

Read A Trio of Grads from Sicily Redefine Family Togetherness to get coverage on the UMUC Europe 2018 commencement ceremony.

Learn more about UMUC Asia 2018 commencement here.

For a preview of UMUC 2018 Stateside commencement and the power of student speakers read Commencement Preview: Student Speakers Inspire More Than Their Fellow Graduates.