Commencement Ceremony

Presenting the Class of 2019

The Soka campus was abuzz with graduation activities on May 24th.

Soka’s student choir began the 15th commencement ceremony with a rendition of the national anthem. President Danny Habuki then welcomed an audience of more than 900 guests consisting of graduates, their families and friends, donors, faculty, staff and students.

Dr. Hyon Moon, Dean of Students, read a message specially prepared for the class of 2019 by university founder Daisaku Ikeda.

Ms. Leymah Gbowee, Nobel laureate and Liberian peace activist, delighted the audience with her commencement address about her life and road to winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

Ms. Leymah Gbowee & President Danny Habuki

Joining President Habuki in conferring the Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership and Societal Change to eight graduate candidates and the Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts to 116 undergraduate candidates were Dr. Ed Feasel,Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer; Dr. Tomoko Takahashi,Vice President for Institutional Research and Assessment, and Dean of the Graduate School; and Dr. Bryan Penprase, Dean of Faculty.

Gradutes of the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Societal Change program

Student speakers selected by their classmates to speak on behalf of their class included Yensi Jacobo, Emmanuel Gebremeskel, MacKenzie Kermoade and Max Bieganski.

The Founders Award was presented to a very surprised and grateful Samikchhya Bhusal, who thanked everyone for making her Soka education so memorable.

Founders Award presented to Samikchhya Bhusal

The student choir and orchestra concluded the ceremony with a performance of “You Raise Me Up”by Josh Groban.

Student Choir

A commencement reception was held at Peace Lake following the recessional.

Photos courtesy of University Archivist and Photographers.