UNF celebrates Spring 2025 Commencement
Today, the University of North Florida celebrates 2,103 students earning their diplomas during the Spring 2025 commencement ceremonies at the UNF Arena. Degrees are being awarded from 45 unique combinations of majors in total.
Ranging in age from 18 to 72, these graduates come from 30 countries, 30% are the first in their families to attend college, 182 are connected to the military and many have a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Graduates from all five academic colleges are launching into careers with top-tier employers including:
- Brooks College of Health: Adventhealth, Ascension, Mayo Clinic, HCA Memorial, Jax Spine and Pain Centers, St. Vincent’s, UF Health Jacksonville
- College of Arts & Sciences: Cox Behavioral Health, England-Thims & Miller, Florida Department of Children and Families, Florida Financial Advisors, Jacksonville Aviation Authority, Jacksonville’s Sheriff Office, TrueNet Communications Inc., PGA Tour
- Coggin College of Business: Corporate Traffic Logistics, FIS, Fidelity Investments, Merrill Lynch, Total Quality Logistics, Citibank, Crowley Maritime, Florida Blue, VyStar Credit Union
- Silverfield College of Education & Human Services: River City Science Academy, Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, SportsMedia Technology, Duval County Public Schools, Nassau County Public Schools, St. Johns County School District
- College of Computing, Engineering & Construction: Amazon, Dun & Bradstreet, NASA, Florida Blue, MetroPower Inc., Stellar Energy Americas
The Senior Service Award is presented by the UNF Alumni Association to one graduating senior each semester for their outstanding service to the University and community through volunteerism. This year’s recipient is Gabriela Espinoza.
Espinoza, a first-generation college student, is graduating from UNF’s College of Arts and Sciences with a bachelor’s in psychology. Throughout her time at UNF, she exemplified servant-leadership and civic engagement by volunteering extensively in the Jacksonville community. Espinoza leveraged her life experience as a child of immigrant parents to support vital services for children and families and help to boost their academic success, English proficiency and access to essential items. She dedicated over 100 hours to Foster Closet, a non-profit resource for local foster parents, where she organized holiday food pantries and assisted with fundraisers. At Kim’s Open Door, she helped refugee and immigrant children with homework and English skills and led physical activities. Her volunteerism extended to Inspire to Rise, Operation Christmas Child, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Jacksonville Humane Society and Hunger Fight. Espinoza plans to pursue a master’s in social work at the University of Maryland, aiming to advocate for children’s welfare and support their well-being.
The Albert D. Ernest Jr. Caring Award seeks to recognize a UNF student who embodies the spirit of caring, volunteerism and humanitarianism. This year’s recipient is Iman Barakzoy.
Barakzoy is graduating with her master’s degree in counselor education from the Silverfield College of Education and Human Services. She serves as a school counselor for First Coast High School through UNF’s GEAR UP program and is in her fourth year as a substitute teacher in St. Johns County. Deeply committed to service, she has volunteered with Lutheran Social Services, Catholic Charities, the YMCA and other faith-based organizations to strengthen the Northeast Florida community. Since 2011, she has also been an active member of the Interfaith Youth League, an initiative of Compassionate St. Augustine. Her professional experience includes roles as a third-grade associate teacher, a community health educator with the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants and a volunteer tutor preparing incarcerated youth for the GED exam. Barakzoy’s advocacy began early through her work with Solace for the Children, where she served as a translator and foster sibling for Afghan children receiving medical care at Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Nemours Hospital. Passionate about giving a voice to the unheard, she believes in the transformative power of empathy and strives to promote justice and equity.
Six students in The Arc Jacksonville On-Campus Transition Program at UNF were also recognized at graduation. This innovative program provides young adults with intellectual differences a transformational college experience as an integral part of their transition to independence.
The UNF Class of Spring 2025 will join the Osprey alumni nation’s current 114,028-member total. As of Fall 2024, UNF has issued 98,802 bachelor’s degrees, 24,170 master’s degrees and 1,653 doctorates since first opening in 1972.