“It was surreal. It was amazing. It felt like all the hard work had finally paid off.”
For Chloe Garcia, who earned a master’s degree in developmental and reproductive biology, those words captured the emotion felt by nearly 1,000 graduates celebrated at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s 2025 Mid-Year Commencement Ceremony on December 20, at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Graduates crossed the stage to mark the completion of undergraduate and advanced degrees and the beginning of new chapters—entering the workforce, continuing their education and giving back to their communities. Family members and friends filled the arena, cheering on graduates as they reached a milestone years in the making.
“There is no day that I enjoy more than graduation day,” said UH President Wendy Hensel. “You can feel the joy in the room, people are excited, they’ve reached their goals and their accomplishments, and we get the privilege of celebrating with them. It’s just a wonderful, wonderful day.”
The ceremony’s student speaker was Cooper Salomon, a candidate for a bachelor of science in natural resources and environmental management. The keynote speaker was Amy Hill, a celebrated actress with strong ties to Hawaiʻi and whose daughter graduated from UH Mānoa in 2022.
She reminded the graduates that the most important word in life is a simple “yes,” saying “yes” to opportunity, to growth and to new beginnings. After the ceremony, students were lining up to thank and take pictures with her.
UH Mānoa is the flagship campus of the stateʻs 10-campus public higher education system and is consistently ranked in the top 2% nationally and internationally. Interim Provost Vassilis Syrmos was beaming with pride after his first commencement in the role.
“Oh, it was wonderful,” said Syrmos, who has been at UH Mānoa for more than three decades. “The vibe, the excitement the students feel, it was unbelievable. Our graduates are the future of the state. They’re going to have good jobs, and we do a really good job educating the future youth of Hawaiʻi.”
Among the graduates was Kansei Matsuzawa, the record-breaking Rainbow Warrior football kicker, who became the program’s first consensus All-American after being named to three of the NCAA’s five official All-America teams, earning a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary science.
“It’s been amazing,” Matsuzawa said. “Hawaiʻi and UH gave me everything, opportunity and joy. I really enjoyed my time in Hawaiʻi. I want to appreciate my family for supporting me throughout my journey. I’m so proud of myself and my family.”
For Garcia, commencement was both a celebration and a moment of gratitude.
“It felt like a blessing to earn this master’s degree and feel all the support from my friends, family, mentors and everyone I met along the way,” she said. “It’s truly a blessing. Now I’m looking ahead—applying for jobs and starting my career.”
