Oregon State University – Cascades will graduate 340 students at its 24th commencement ceremony on Sunday, June 15, bringing the total number of graduates to 5,972 since OSU-Cascades was founded in 2001.
In addition, with the class of 2025, OSU-Cascades has trained and contributed more than 800 K-12 teachers and more than 500 mental health and school counselors to serve in Central Oregon and the state.
The class is the fourth largest in OSU-Cascades’ 24-year history.
More than 260 students are expected to participate in the ceremony, which will take place at 10 a.m., rain or shine, on the Oval Green on the OSU-Cascades campus. More than 2,500 family and friends are anticipated. Gates will open at 9 a.m. Tickets are required, and attendees must follow OSU’s clear bag policy.
The graduating class will receive 345 degrees and includes five students who will receive two degrees.
The commencement address will be given by Derek Abbey. Abbey is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, an alumnus of OSU, and president and CEO of Project Recovery.
“This graduating class demonstrates how OSU-Cascades is providing innovative opportunities for students and contributing to the workforce in Central Oregon and Oregon in technical, creative, health and human service, and education fields,” said Sherm Bloomer, chancellor and dean of OSU-Cascades. “I’m especially proud of how OSU-Cascades’ academic faculty have prepared our graduates to have a positive impact in their careers and on the future of Oregon and the world.”
Bloomer will preside over the ceremony and OSU President Jayathi Murthy will confer degrees to students.
Bloomer will present OSU-Cascades’ Distinguished Service Award posthumously to Mark Kralj, who served in volunteer leadership positions for decades within OSU and at OSU-Cascades, as well as with the OSU Foundation. The award honors individuals, businesses or organizations who have made exceptional contributions to OSU-Cascades, Central Oregon, Oregon or the world.
Kralj and his wife Kathy supported causes in Central Oregon and around the state, and in 2024 established a scholarship fund to help student veterans at OSU-Cascades transition from military to academic life.
Emily Kralj, Kralj’s daughter, will accept the award on behalf of the Kralj family.
Some additional facts and figures about the OSU-Cascades’ class of 2025:
- Of the 345 degrees awarded, 256 will go to students receiving bachelor’s degrees, and 89 to those receiving master’s and doctoral degrees.
- Degrees will be awarded in 25 academic programs.
- Five students will receive an OSU Honors degree, which requires completion of advanced classes and a thesis.
- One student has been inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest academic honor society in the nation.
- 77% of the graduates are from Oregon, with 43% from Central Oregon.
- OSU-Cascades’ 2025 graduates represent 24 of Oregon’s 36 counties.
- Graduates represent 20 other U.S. states and three countries.
- The graduating class includes 58 students who are first in their family to earn a college degree.
- Twenty-three graduates are active-duty military personnel or veterans of the national armed forces.
- The average age of the graduating class is 27, the oldest is 60 and the youngest is 20.
The ceremony marks the fourth commencement to take place on the OSU-Cascades campus.
-30-
About OSU-Cascades: Oregon State University’s campus in Bend brings higher education to Central Oregon, the fastest growing region in the state. Surrounded by mountains, forest and high desert, OSU-Cascades is a highly innovative campus of a top-tier land grant research university, offering small classes that accelerate faculty-student mentoring and experiential learning. Degree programs meet industry and economic needs in areas such as innovation and entrepreneurship, natural ecosystems, health and wellness, and arts and sciences, and prepare students for tomorrow’s challenges. OSU-Cascades is expanding to serve 3,000 to 5,000 students, building a 128-acre campus with net-zero goals.
