Allister Dias is no stranger to speaking to UNLV students. As a former undergraduate student body president and editor of the school newspaper, Dias spent the better part of the last four years representing the voice of UNLV’s student population and advocating on their behalf.
So it’s fitting that his last act as an undergraduate was delivering an address to his fellow graduates as the student speaker during one of UNLV’s three May 2025 Commencement ceremonies.
“Every single student in the crowd today — every single cap and tassel — represents a unique identity, a story eager to be shared. Ours is a story of resilience, passion, and accomplishment,” said Dias, wearing a scarlet cap and gown as he spoke to a sea of similarly dressed graduates in a packed Thomas & Mack Center.
“Today is not only a celebration of everything we’ve accomplished over the last four years, but a clear indication of what we’ll achieve next,” said Dias. “In a world of so much uncertainty, I have the utmost faith that all of us here will forge a better tomorrow and much brighter world.”
The UNLV Class of 2025 is one of the university’s largest on record. More than 3,500 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees will be awarded this spring. This year's class is nearly 40% larger than its counterpart just a decade.
The top three degree-granting colleges for undergraduates this spring? Liberal Arts, Business, and Urban Affairs. And the College of Education led the way in awarding the most master’s degrees.
Nearly half of all of this spring’s graduates are the first in their families to earn a degree, and a remarkable 88% are Nevada residents.
“Commencement is the most meaningful day in the life of a university,” said UNLV Interim President Chris Heavey during his first commencement as the university’s new leader. “This day is a reminder of why we exist: to help students succeed and to move knowledge forward.”
Grads and Honorees Take Center Stage
During the weekend ceremonies, university leaders continued a longstanding tradition of honoring a select group of students who exemplify the academic, research, and community impact of the graduating class.
“Each semester, these nominations offer powerful reminders of the promise and potential of our students,” said Kate Korgan, Officer in Charge for the Office of Executive Vice President and Provost. “They show us not only what our graduates have achieved, but also what they are poised to contribute to the world.”
This spring’s 10 honorees, nominated by the campus community, include rising researchers in psychology, science, and criminal justice; avid campus and community volunteers; mental and physical health advocates; and a veteran and aspiring doctor changing career paths.
Joining these outstanding UNLV graduates as honorees this weekend were two honorary doctorate degree recipients — UNLV Oral History Research Center founding director Claytee White and local business leader and philanthropist Joe Murphy. White was also honored by the Nevada System of Higher Education as a Distinguished Nevadan. Former NSHE regent and longtime champion for education Lois Tarkanian, who passed away in 2024, was also honored posthumously as a Distinguished Nevadan.
Resilient Rebels
The 2025 UNLV graduating class has endured periods of tragedy and of triumph over the past four years.
Many entered the university at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, persevering through an unprecedented era of uncertainty. They were also present to witness UNLV reach new highs in enrollment and maintain its status as a Top Tier public research university. And many were UNLV students during the Dec. 6, 2023 tragedy, when a gunman killed three cherished faculty members and seriously wounded another.
“Throughout our time here, we’ve seen our campus exhibit remarkable levels of strength through incredibly challenging times,” said Dias. “We’ve overcome so much together, areas of pain and hardship. But through every challenge, we unified. We came together, we stood shoulder to shoulder, and took on our darkest moment together. Strength is not new to UNLV — it’s woven into the very fabric of our identity and in everything that we believe as a campus community.”
Watch Commencement Replays
Since 1964, UNLV has awarded over 183,000 degrees to more than 150,000 alumni. To view archived streams of the May 16 and 17 commencement ceremonies and download event programs, visit the UNLV Commencement website.
