More than half of the university’s 1,954 graduating students will walk in commencement this semester. The University of Alabama at Birmingham will host two ceremonies for graduating students Saturday, Dec. 14.
This semester, 1,061 students are expected to walk in the ceremonies, which are held at UAB’s Bartow Arena. At least 1,954 students are eligible to graduate.
The first ceremony, for all graduate students, including master’s, educational specialist and doctoral, will be at 9:30 a.m. For fall 2024, the UAB Graduate School will confer the university’s highest degrees on 240 students from 23 states and 14 countries, representing 43 disciplines.
The second ceremony, for all undergraduate students, will be at 2 p.m.
UAB provides accommodations for graduates and guests with special needs. Visit the commencement website for full details about the ceremonies, parking and more. There is no limit on the number of guests who can attend the ceremonies, and parking is free. Thirteenth Street South between Sixth Avenue and University Boulevard will be closed to through traffic Saturday.
Watch the UAB livestream of both ceremonies on Facebook and YouTube.
Alan Tita, M.D., Ph.D., senior associate dean for Global and Women’s Health in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, will carry the academic mace for both ceremonies. Tita is a sub-specialist in maternal-fetal medicine and one of the country’s leading innovators on the topic. For his contributions as a researcher and clinician and his service to UAB, Tita was recognized with the 2023-2024 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award. This is the highest honor bestowed by UAB’s academic health center on a faculty member who has advanced the frontiers of science and made outstanding contributions to education, research and public service.
Sierra Frazier of Madison, Alabama, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music with a minor in psychology, will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” for the morning ceremony. Reagan Martin of Cullman, Alabama, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music, will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the afternoon ceremony.
Marnix E. Heersink, M.D., and Mary Parks HeersinkUAB President Ray L. Watts will confer the 2024 UAB President’s Medal upon Marnix E. Heersink, M.D., an internationally respected innovator, entrepreneur, eye surgeon and philanthropist, during the morning commencement ceremony. The President’s Medal is one of the highest honors bestowed by UAB and recognizes individuals who have attained scholarly distinction and/or rendered distinguished service to UAB. The President’s Medal is awarded to Heersink in recognition of his extraordinary vision, leadership and generosity to UAB and the state of Alabama.
Heersink, and his wife of 46 years, Mary Parks Heersink, have supported UAB and numerous organizations and initiatives aimed at improving health, education and economic development throughout Alabama and beyond. Their efforts have forged strong partnerships in research, patient care and education among leading universities, medical centers and nations, particularly between the United States, Canada and the Netherlands.
In 2021 and 2022, the Heersinks made transformational commitments to UAB totaling $100 million — the largest philanthropic commitments in the university’s history — that fittingly named the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine and established the Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation, the Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health, a new conference center and supporting endowments. In keeping with the Heersinks’ vision, this historic gift has been used to enhance and accelerate critical initiatives in the HSOM, including leading-edge biomedical innovation in strategic priority areas, recruitment and retention of top faculty, and growth of international partnerships in global health.