Jacklyn Wilson, left, throws confetti to celebrate receiving her Master of Business Administration degree from Gregory Fowler, president of University of Maryland Global Campus, during the commencement ceremony at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 3, 2025. Wilson traveled from Saudi Arabia to attend in person. (Zade Vadnais/Stars and Stripes)
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — “No more homework!” one graduate of University of Maryland Global Campus Europe shouted as confetti flew and flowers changed hands outside the officers club over the weekend.
Laughter, cheers and hugs punctuated the big day for the 293 students in the class of 2025 who walked the stage Saturday at commencement, with nearly 1,000 spectators on hand to bear witness.
This year’s class is one of the largest in the university’s history, according to university president Gregory Fowler, and its members ranged from an 18-year-old earning an associate degree to a 61-year-old who was awarded both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree.
“I was so nervous at this age to go back to school, but my kids motivated me,” said Rasheeda Hall, 47, an Air Force veteran and Army civilian employee who received a bachelor’s degree in general studies.
“I have adult children as well as teenagers in high school,” she said. “We can’t just tell them, ‘You better go to school.’ We have to lead by example.”
Melissa Melton of the University of Maryland Global Campus class of 2025 walks through a balloon arch as onlookers throw confetti following a commencement ceremony at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 3, 2025. Melton was one of 293 graduates to walk the stage during the ceremony. (Zade Vadnais/Stars and Stripes)
Rasheeda Hall, a member of the University of Maryland Global Campus class of 2025, prepares to walk the stage to receive her bachelor's degree in general studies during a commencement ceremony at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 3, 2025. (Zade Vadnais/Stars and Stripes)
Rasheeda Hall, left, an Air Force veteran and member of the University of Maryland Global Campus class of 2025, accepts her degree from Gregory Fowler, the university president, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 3, 2025. Hall was one of 293 graduates to walk the stage during the ceremony. (Zade Vadnais/Stars and Stripes)
It took mere minutes for some graduates living in the Kaiserslautern Military Community to get to the commencement site. Others traveled a long way, including one student who flew in from Saudi Arabia.
This year, UMGC Europe is conferring 1,436 degrees across associate, bachelor’s and master’s programs, a 29% increase from last year, according to Patricia Coopersmith, UMGC Europe’s vice president and director.
More than 13,000 students completed coursework with UMGC this academic year either in person or online across more than 175 locations in over 20 countries.
About 63% were active-duty service members and nearly all were employed while enrolled, Coopersmith said.
The ceremony was livestreamed for friends and family watching from afar. For many of the graduates who made the trip to Ramstein, walking the stage in person marked a powerful moment of accomplishment and connection.
“It’s a really unique experience to finally meet people who I’ve only really seen on Zoom,” said military spouse Dorissa Jenkins, who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and graduated summa cum laude.
Jenkins said completing her degree overseas while away from extended family was difficult at times.
“This ceremony makes it feel like a big community, which we are, but we’re spread out,” she said. “It’s really nice to have this opportunity to celebrate together.”
UMGC Europe held additional ceremonies in England, Spain, Italy, Bahrain and other locations to honor its overseas graduates.
