SPRING 2025 Commencement
Our Spring Commencement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. in the Superior Dome. Speech-to-text service will be available to attendees via smartphone or tablet.
SPRING 2025 Commencement
The ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 3rd at 10:30 a.m. at the Superior Dome. Speech-to-text service is accessible for attendees via smartphone or tablet here.
At this time, masks will not be required at Commencement, but that is subject to change if COVID cases rise measurably in Marquette County. There are currently no limitations on attendees.
Commencement rehearsal will be held on Friday, May 2nd at 2:15 p.m. in the Superior Dome.
The morning of Commencement, Saturday, May 3rd students will assemble in the Vandament Arena at 9:30 a.m. before they march to the Dome.
Student regalia can be purchased from the NMU Bookstore: nmu.edu/commencement/caps-gowns-tassels. They carry a wide selection of caps, tassels, and gowns available in all sizes.
A reception will be held immediately following Commencement in the Grand Ballrooms of the Northern Center. All family and friends are invited.
Spring 2025 Commencement Speakers
Honorary Degree
Leah Hocking
Former Northern Michigan University theater student and Broadway veteran Leah Hocking will serve as the keynote speaker at NMU's May 2025 commencement ceremony. The Marquette native, who will also receive an honorary Doctor of Theater Studies degree, has appeared in 10 Broadway musicals throughout her career. Her notable roles include Mum in Billy Elliot, Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia, Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray, Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde, and Marty in Grease. She was also nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for her performance as Mrs. Wilkinson in the national tour of Billy Elliot at The Kennedy Center.
“I absolutely love Marquette and try to get back there once a year,” Hocking said during a 2023 interview ahead of her return to NMU’s Forest Roberts Theatre. “It’s such a beautiful place. If I could have found a way to make a living there, as an actor, I would have stayed. I think about retiring in Marquette, but then again, I don’t plan on retiring ever. I love what I do.”
Read the full article here: Hocking to Speak at Commencement, Receive Honorary Degree
Student Commencement Speaker
Rosalva Brito
Rosalva Brito, a criminal justice major and Spanish minor from Chicago, will deliver the student commencement address at Northern Michigan University's May 2025 ceremony. A proud first-generation college student, Brito was drawn to NMU for its scholarships, safe and welcoming environment, and the chance to build a better future far from the high-crime neighborhood where she grew up.
“I love this place so much that I wasn't ready to let it go just yet,” said Brito, who plans to stay at NMU to pursue a master’s in public administration. A passionate student leader and advocate, she has held leadership roles in the Latinx Student Union and Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, and credits NMU’s Criminal Justice Department for their guidance and support.
Read the full article here: Brito is Student Commencement Speaker
