The University of Washington Bothell honored more than 1,300 graduates in two Commencement ceremonies at the Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on June 15. The Purple Ceremony included students from the schools of Business, Educational Studies and Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, while the Gold Ceremony included students from the schools of Nursing & Health Studies and STEM.
The Class of 2025, totaling more than 1,900, brings the number of UW Bothell alumni to more than 34,000 as the University completes its 35th year. Many students were local to Washington state, and some came from as far away as Cambodia, Lithuania and Rwanda.
Fernanda Armas, a first-generation student from Venezuela who was the 2024-25 president of the Associated Students of UW Bothell, was one of two student speakers.
“The world is a little messy right now. But here’s the thing,” she said in her remarks. “We get to be the ones to fix it. To build something better. To be the generation that sees the cracks and plants seeds in them.”
A wide web of supporters
Armas, who received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Policy Studies, shared a phrase popularized by the Spider-Man movies: With great power comes great responsibility.
“That power doesn’t mean we need to save the world overnight,” she explained. “It means we’re responsible for how we show up in our communities. How we treat people. How we choose courage over comfort. That’s the kind of heroism we’re being called to right now.
“And through it all, we never walk alone.”
This was echoed by Brianna Fero, who received her Master of Arts in Policy Studies and was the graduate student speaker. “When it all felt like too much, it wasn’t just our own willpower that kept us going — it was our teams,” Brianna told her fellow graduates.
“Professors who pushed us. Classmates who became family. Friends, coworkers, mentors who believed in us. Families, partners, kids — the people who sacrificed so we could be here today.”
Excellence in action
In front of audiences that included the graduates’ family members, friends, faculty and support staff — approximately 6,000 in the arena for each ceremony and several hundred watching the livestream — Chancellor Kristin G. Esterberg presented the 2025 Chancellor’s Medal to Niveah Martinez, who received her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science & Software Engineering.
The Chancellor’s Medal is annually awarded to a UW Bothell student who has been a consistent source of inspiration for peers and faculty alike even as they overcome obstacles. Growing up in the Yakima Valley, surviving — not education — was Martinez’s first priority, she said in an award presentation video. Nevertheless, she excelled in her studies.
As a result of a study abroad trip to Spain spent researching cybersecurity and AI, Martinez is using what she learned to help the Latino Leadership Initiative to improve its data protection, operational security and training.
UW President Ana Mari Cauce presented the President’s Medal to the UW Bothell student with the most distinguished academic record. Emerald Chuesh, who received her bachelor’s degree in Health Studies, is the 2025 honoree. As a first-generation student, she initially defaulted to a pre-med track, believing that clinical work alone advances public health.
Her experiences at UW Bothell not only revealed the importance of scientific research but also that the field more closely aligned with her aspirations and strengths. Chuesh now plans to be a researcher, using her knowledge and skills to develop evidence-based solutions that address health challenges and to better scientific advancement.
Meeting the moment
In her final commencement address, President Cauce, who is stepping away after 10 years in the role to return to the UW faculty, told the students, “More than ever, we need you. The world needs your voice, your ideas, your passion. The challenges ahead are real, but your compassion, determination and courage are primed to meet them.”
Chancellor Esterberg also spoke to the environment these new alumni are facing. “You are graduating into one of the most challenging periods in recent history. But I know you are well prepared to meet this historical moment.
“At UW Bothell, you learned how to engage with people from different backgrounds and were awakened to the beauty of life experiences different from your own. You learned how to make your way through difficult conversations, allowing space for other viewpoints and finding common ground to move forward. Through your group projects, you learned the value of teamwork and know first-hand that by working together, you can make the impossible, possible.
“I know you are well prepared for what is ahead of you — and poised to make a tremendous impact in our community, in the state of Washington and around the world.”
