UMGC Global Media Center
UMGC to Hold Stateside “Winter Grad Walk” Dec. 16–18

Adelphi, Md. (Dec. 7, 2022)—University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) has announced Winter Grad Walk 2022, an in-person and online experience designed to place the spotlight directly on graduates and their achievements while helping protect the health and safety of their guests and the university community. Of the university’s 7,619 winter graduates from around the world, more than 2,200 have registered to attend the stateside ceremonies.

During winter commencement, UMGC will celebrate another milestone: surpassing 100,000 in the number of alumni living in Maryland. The university has selected several graduates who hail from Maryland to serve as #UMGCgrad Social Media Ambassadors, spreading the word about the milestone and other commencement activities. (UMGC’s global alumni community currently totals more than 275,000 worldwide.) 

Winter Grad Walk 2022 will take place at the College Park Marriott Hotel and Conference Center Dec. 16–18, with graduates selecting from multiple time slots over the three days to cross the stage and receive individual recognition.  

Special features of Winter Grad Walk 2022 include:

• Each graduate’s name will be called as they cross a formal commencement stage in regalia 

• Family members and friends can cheer their graduate from a viewing area directly in front of the stage 

• Professional photographers will be on site to take individual portraits as each graduate crosses the stage 

• Each graduate will receive a video clip of themselves crossing the stage to keep as a memento and share online 

Graduates can also commemorate their achievements with family and friends in a special Celebration Zone, where they can meet UMGC faculty, staff, and Alumni Association representatives and purchase UMGC Alumni apparel, gear and other mementos.

A special website has been created for the stateside winter class of 2022 that includes an on-demand ceremony with presentations by speakers, the formal conferral of degrees by UMGC President Gregory W. Fowler, a keynote address by Maryland Delegate Jazz Lewis, and remarks by student speaker Mohomed Babiker, as well as an online “Gallery of Graduates” showcasing graduates’ personalized recognition slides that can be shared via social media or e-mail.

Graduates have received a mailed Grad Pack containing UMGC ‘swag’ to help jump-start the festivities. They are encouraged to share their achievements with fellow graduates via social media using #UMGCGrad.  

A profile of the Winter 2022 graduates: 

Number of graduates: 7,619 

Average age: 35 

Oldest graduate: 79 

Youngest graduate: 18 

Graduates come from all 50 states, five U.S territories and 18 countries 

Degrees awarded: 

Associate: 1,290 

Bachelor’s: 4,359 

Master’s: 1,948  

Doctorate: 23