UIW Celebrates 2022 Spring Graduates
Graduates Completed 139,153 Hours of Community Service
San Antonio – The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is proud to announce the conferral of 1,090 professional, doctoral, graduate and undergraduate degrees to students at the Spring Commencement Ceremony. The ceremony took place in front of family and friends at Freeman Coliseum during two ceremonies on May 7, 2022.
The Commencement marked the first time that all the graduates from UIW’s five health professions schools (Ila Fay Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions, Feik School of Pharmacy, Rosenberg School of Optometry, School of Physical Therapy and School of Osteopathic Medicine) graduated in the same ceremony at the same time. It was a historic moment, acknowledged UIW President, Dr. Thomas M. Evans as he addressed the graduates. Evans recalled the story of the founding Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word who were called to Texas from France in response to a pandemic in the late 1800’s.
“The parallels of their journey and yours are astounding and they add to the significance of the milestone we are celebrating today,” Evans told the graduates. “Just as our founders began their service in response to a public health crisis, you are graduating in the midst of a global pandemic, into a world that needs your particular set of skills, education and compassion more than ever. Thankfully, we were blessed to be born into this modern era of fast-moving innovation and medical knowledge. You will not have to travel to your patients by horse-drawn wagon or provide care with little more than your own two hands and faith. However, some truths remain the same. You will encounter patients who are also frightened, ill and, perhaps, short on hope. When you do, I ask you to think about what the care you provide means to them and their families. Just as it was with those first Sisters, to your patients and their families, you represent hope and the potential that tomorrow can be better than today.”
The graduating Spring Class of 2022 completed an inspiring 139,153 hours of community service, providing an economic impact of $3.9 million to San Antonio and the surrounding communities. Community service is a pillar of the well-rounded education promised by UIW and it is the hope of our community that the graduates will continue this legacy of service as concerned and enlightened citizens of the world.