Students from across the University of Iowa campus collaborate to put together name, image, and likeness plans for Hawkeye student-athlete “clients.”

It was through his classes and professors at the University of Iowa that Ben Cooper discovered a love of neurobiology. It was through his work with Undergraduate Student Government that he found a love for working with people and advocating for them. These discoveries led to what he plans to do next with his life.

As a high school student, Brenda Ramirez thought it would be cool to work in public office someday. That "someday" happened when she became a Hawkeye, serving for three years on Undergraduate Student Government capped by a term as vice president. Ramirez will graduate this spring with a BA in political science and BA in economics.

Ella McDaniel came all the way from New Hampshire to serve in the coveted role of UI Golden Girl, the Hawkeye Marching Band’s scholarship baton twirler. She enjoyed her time at Iowa so much that, after graduating with a degree in exercise science, she plans to stay on campus and work toward a Master of Science in Athletic Training.

Emily Mozena was born in Iowa but grew up and lived in various places around the world thanks to her father’s job in the State Department. In fact, her family was preparing to move to England when she was deciding where she wanted to go to college. Her sister had already moved to Iowa City to go to the University of Iowa, so Mozena decided to follow her.

After graduating with a BA in actuarial science and BA in business administration from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, Eric Dowe started looking at grad schools. “The University of Iowa had the exact program that I was looking for,” says Dowe, who will graduate this spring with an MS in finance and MS in business analytics.

At age 10, Genevieve Martinez spent two weeks in a hospital, during which she was inspired by the nurses who cared for her. Martinez will graduate this month with a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Iowa, where she spent the past year serving as president of the Student Nurse Association.

When Kaleb Young started studying at the University of Iowa, he wanted to become a doctor. And while he’ll gain that title, it will not be an MD like he originally planned but a PhD with a focus in flood mitigation.

Kisara Thompson grew up in Singapore, and when it came time to choose a college, she only applied to one. “I only applied to the University of Iowa for undergrad, and I only applied to the University of Iowa for pharmacy school,” says Thompson, who will graduate this spring with a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). “I have no regrets whatsoever.

While being treated at UI Health Care for severe scoliosis over the years, Mallory Obenauf found a home away from home, a passion to work in health care, and a lifelong mentor in her doctor. “It was an easy decision to come here not only for undergrad, but also dental school,” says Obenauf, who will graduate this month with a DDS from the UI College of Dentistry.

Max Willis is a storyteller — a multifaceted one, at that. “I can write, I can work in front of and behind the camera, I can do graphic design, I can do video editing or photo editing, I can fly a drone — I feel really well prepared,” says Willis, who will graduate with a BA in journalism and mass communication, BA in African American studies, and minor in sport and recreation management.

Maya Monk never could have predicted when she went looking for a research opportunity at the University of Iowa that she would end up working with 13,600-year-old mastodon bones. “It’s been such an incredible experience to get to work on this,” says Monk, who will graduate this spring with a BS in biology.

Megan Mindy is grateful to have found multiple opportunities to combine her interests in working in health care and working with the disability community while at the University of Iowa. To start with, she’ll graduate this spring with a BS in public health and a minor in inclusive recreation.

Noah Hermanson this fall will become a third-generation University of Iowa College of Dentistry student. “I guess you could say dentistry is in my blood, and I bleed black and gold,” says Hermanson, who will graduate this spring with a BA in enterprise leadership and interdepartmental studies (health science-multidisciplinary science) on the pre-dental track.

This spring, nearly 5,500 University of Iowa undergraduate, graduate, and professional students will earn degrees. These Hawkeyes have engaged, excelled, and stretched to reach their goals.

Unprecedented find provides a unique opportunity for University of Iowa students to participate in the preservation of a piece of prehistory.

The ultimate day in medical education arrived in March for senior medical students in the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. More than 40 of these graduating students will train in the state of Iowa.

University of Iowa’s Arts Share, the Muscatine Art Center, and the Stanley Center commissioned Iowa Playwrights Workshop student Cianon Jones to write a play about Alexander Clark, a longtime Muscatine resident and early leader in the fight for equal rights in the state.

First-gen students might come to college unaware of the pathways to research. The University of Iowa offers them support, from educational and networking services to hands-on workshops that deal with brain research.

When his toddler was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder more than 20 years ago, Ted Abel expanded his research focus to include the developmental disorder. Today, the University of Iowa provides an environment where both father and son have thrived.

Serving in the U.S. Marines gave Arnold “Bill” Bangel III the focus he needed to pursue a PhD in industrial and systems engineering. Learning how to navigate a devastating loss gave him life perspective.

University of Iowa doctoral student Aubrey McEnroe aims to bring mental health services to the rural Iowa community where she also intends to continue the legacy of her family farm.

This fall, more than 1,700 University of Iowa undergraduate, graduate, and professional students will earn degrees. As the latest cohort of Hawkeyes prepares to graduate, we laud all they have accomplished.

Ava Haberer grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, but she spent many of her summers running around Iowa City and the University of Iowa campus while visiting family. When it came time to think about where she wanted to go to college, she sent in only one application: to Iowa. She's set to graduate with a BA in criminology, law, and justice.

Ethan Dabareiner has led tens of thousands of fans in cheering for the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium, Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and stadiums across the country. “Spirit Squad and cheerleading gave me a great opportunity to be a part of the university in a way that I had never been a part of any school atmosphere before,” says Dabareiner, who will graduate with a BBA in accounting.

Lauren Mudd is ready for a little more free time — and so are her children. Mudd’s family will travel with her from their home in Archer City, Texas, to watch her receive a PhD in biostatistics from the University of Iowa College of Public Health during the December 2024 commencement ceremony.

Marshawn Gunn had early dreams of being a meterologist, but he soon discovered he loved something more: telling stories. “I was aiming to tell people about weather, so I’m glad that I was able to find a different way to tell people stories and inform them about things going on in their community,” says Gunn, who will graduate with a BA in journalism and mass communication and a minor in sport and recreation management.

While many students are surprised to discover they can participate in research during their undergraduate studies, Olivia Kopp went looking for a university where she could do just that. “I like the idea of constantly finding out new things and learning more, so I wanted to go to a research school specifically," says Kopp, who will graduate with a BS in psychology.

Year after year, Iowa students push to achieve more and come together for the greater good—that’s the Hawkeye Way. Several members of this year’s cohort of new graduates share what made their experiences special.

In addition to helping two community newspapers stay afloat, the purchase of the “Solon Economist” and the “Mount Vernon–Lisbon Sun” by “The Daily Iowan” is giving University of Iowa students more on-the-job training — and a taste of journalism practices in a small town.

Iowa’s unmatched writing-related resources prepare its graduates for success in many fields. This level of excellence positions Iowa as the best public university for writing and communication.

This fall, the University of Iowa welcomes another academically accomplished class of students, one of the largest first-year cohorts in university history.

“Fierce,” an opera composed by a University of Iowa jazz studies faculty member, debuted in Iowa on the Hancher Auditorium stage, ushering in a new era of collaboration among performing arts units on campus.

A unique practicum gives University of Iowa students behind-the-scenes access to golf venues and events, including a tournament on the PGA Tour.

When photographers at The Daily Iowan were granted exclusive access to the Iowa women’s basketball program in the fall of 2023, they got a front-row seat to a historic season and a hands-on workshop on book publishing.

A group of graduating students from the University of Iowa College of Public Health have laid a solid foundation for a student organization that focuses on reducing health disparities in rural communities — like the ones they call home.

Three-year-old Liam Mattson is always on the go. His parents say that is in large part due to the expertise and advocacy of pediatric specialists at UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Treatment for a childhood stutter led Abbi Shekleton to her future professional passion. “I had a great experience with my speech-language pathologist. She really cultivated a love of the field within me. I saw a lot of potential in what can happen with a therapist who is kind, compassionate, and knowledgeable. I thought, ‘I want to be that person for someone else.’”

Graduating UI student Benton Renaud can thank rapper Cardi B, in part, for inspiring him to go down his planned career path. “She said to always take a business class,” Renaud says. “She said they would always be important because you’re going to use business in every aspect of your life. So, I switched to finance and political science and fell in love with the two.”

Brian Damman sought an MBA program that could help him be fluent or at least conversive with clients so that he could give the most resonant legal advice. “The Iowa MBA program jumped out to me because it is so highly regarded, it’s in-state, and it offers flexibility with the online format,” he says.

Jamie Capps had been working in logistics and finance for nearly two decades when she decided to quit her job and pursue her passion for art. “ know that this is where I belong and what I should be doing,” says Capps, who will graduate this spring with an MFA in book arts.

Kevin Dong says he’s been a Hawkeye fan his whole life. So, when choosing a college, the Estherville, Iowa, resident didn’t have to think too hard about where to go. It also didn’t hurt that he knew he wanted to be a pharmacist and the University of Iowa’s College of Pharmacy is ranked among the best 20 in the country.

When UI graduating student MacK Reyes tells her own cinematic stories, she leans toward genres such as horror, mystery, and thrillers. The double major in cinema and screenwriting arts says women tend to be the stars of her stories. “And they normally end with the woman coming out on top in some way or another, which is unique in that genre, I think,” Reyes says.

Regan Day never thought of herself as a researcher: “People don’t typically think of political science as a field in which you conduct research.” But research has played a big role in Day’s time at the University of Iowa while working toward degrees in political science, marketing, and business analytics and information systems.

Months and months of fundraising and planning. Twenty-four hours of dancing. Finally, the numbers went up: $1,454,929.30 raised for pediatric cancer patients being treated at UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital. “I’d been up for more than 30 hours, and my feet were really hurting, but when that final total board went up, everything just went away,” says Sushma Santhana, who will graduate with a degree in biomedical engineering.

Many little kids dream of being a Disney Princess. Tatiana Plowman became one: Queen Elena of Avalor. The graduating University of Iowa student from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, works with A Moment of Magic, a nonprofit student organization that brings characters from Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars to entertain underserved and medically vulnerable children.

Wade Gutierrez loved being in the operating room. He also loved spending time in clinic. He wanted a specialty that allowed both. The MD-PhD student in the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine’s Cancer Biology Program and Medical Scientist Training Program ultimately chose urology.

Physical activity has always played a big role in Maggie McQuillen’s life. “I’ve been working out my whole life. I played four sports in high school. When I started taking classes for exercise science, I loved it right away.” When McQuillen graduates from the University of Iowa, physical fitness will continue to play a role in her career — most immediately as a personal trainer.