Commencement
February 22, 2021
The University of Portland has announced plans for a virtual commencement ceremony honoring the graduating Class of 2021 on Sunday, May 9 at 1:00 p.m. Schedules for a virtual Baccalaureate Mass that weekend along with details for the commissioning of graduates from UP’s Air Force and Army ROTC programs will be announced soon.
The decision to hold an online event is driven by COVID-19 pandemic precautions limiting events with large crowds. University officials hope to provide an in-person celebration of its 2021 graduates sometime in the future. Last year’s spring commencement ceremony was also held virtually due to pandemic concerns.
“While we are disappointed that holding an in-person graduation will not be possible, we look forward to producing a virtual commencement ceremony that pays proper tribute to our graduates and their families.” said University President Rev. Mark L. Poorman, C.S.C. “The Class of 2021 has had a remarkable impact on The Bluff, and it will be our University’s honor to celebrate all that they have accomplished in May.”
The following 2021 Commencement special honorees are also being announced by UP:
Sister Marilyn Lacey, R.S.M. – Receiving the University’s highest honor, the Christus Magister Medal, is Sister Marilyn Lacey, R.S.M. Sister Lacey is the founder and executive director of Mercy Beyond Borders, an organization that provides educational, economic, and empowerment opportunities to women and girls living in extreme poverty. With operations in South Sudan, Haiti, Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi, Mercy Beyond Borders serves over 1,400 people annually. Sister Lacey won the 2017 Opus Prize and, in 2001, she was honored by the Dalai Lama as an “Unsung Hero of Compassion.”
Father Greg Boyle, S.J. (Commencement Speaker) – Father Greg Boyle, S.J., will serve as the virtual Commencement Speaker and receive an honorary degree. He is the founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the world, as well as the author of the 2010 New York Times-bestseller Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion. In 2014, President Barack Obama named Father Boyle a “Champion of Change,” and he has received the California Peace Prize and Notre Dame Laetare Medal, among numerous other honors.
Carlos Kalmar – For nearly two decades, Kalmar has served as music director of the Oregon Symphony. He is also artistic director and principal conductor of the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago. His international engagements as a conductor and music director have earned him critical acclaim, three Grammy nominations, and numerous other awards.
Carol Ann Mooney – A legal scholar, renowned professor, and Catholic higher education leader, Mooney served as president of Saint Mary’s College in Indiana from 2004 until her retirement in 2016. She was the first lay alumna of the institution to hold the office.
Gil Muñoz – Muñoz is chief executive officer of the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, a provider of high quality, culturally appropriate health care to individuals in Washington and Yamhill Counties who experience barriers in accessing medical care.
University of Portland
5000 N. Willamette Blvd.,
Portland, Oregon 97203-5798
503.943.8000
This website uses cookies to track information for analytics purposes. You can view the full University of Portland privacy policy for more information.
