Augustana to recognize 624 graduates May 27

Augustana College will recognize 624 students at the college's 163rd commencement ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 27, at the Vibrant Arena at the Mark, 1201 River Dr., Moline, Ill. The commencement convocation will be livestreamed and can be accessed at augustana.edu.

CNN Hero Nelly Cheboi '16 will deliver the commencement address at the ceremony. Cheboi, co-founder of TechLit Africa, was honored in April with the establishment of the Nelly Cheboi Endowed Scholarship, which will be awarded to international students with demonstrated need and academic merit.

Augustana College President Andrea Talentino, who became the college's ninth president on July 1, 2022, will deliver her first commencement convocation. Sofia Briggs, an applied mathematics major from Fort Collins, Colo., who serves as vice president of the Student Government Association, will be the featured student speaker.

The Class of 2023 is the most diverse class in Augustana's 163-year history, with graduates hailing from 20 countries including the United States and 24 U.S. states. A total of 85 graduates call Rock Island County home and 17 graduates are from Scott County.

The most popular majors are biology (with 72 majors), psychology (with 52 majors), and accounting and business administration-finance (with 50 majors each). 

Additionally, 17 individuals will be recognized for earning a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. This is the second cohort of graduates of the master's program, with a master's hooding ceremony slated for 2:30 p.m. Friday, May 26, at the Peter J. Lindberg, M.D., Center on campus.

To view a complete list of those being celebrated, visit Candidates for graduation 2023.

Doors open for Saturday's commencement ceremony at noon. Tickets are not required. All attendees will enter the building through metal detectors. Purses, backpacks and bags are restricted to 5 in. by 7 in. by 2 in. Exceptions will be made for medical reasons or diaper bags (small children must be present upon entry). Weapons, air horns and helium balloons are prohibited at the arena.