Berkeley Engineering celebrates class of 2025
UC Berkeley Engineering celebrated its newest graduates over the course of three ceremonies last week, honoring more than 2,000 bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degree recipients. Graduates were greeted by cheers — and a few tears — as family and friends celebrated this milestone achievement and capstone to their time at Berkeley.
The baccalaureate and master’s degree ceremonies were held on May 21 at the Hearst Greek Theatre, while the Ph.D. degree recipients were hooded on May 24 at Zellerbach Hall.
At each ceremony, Dean Tsu-Jae King Liu congratulated graduates and encouraged them to remain focused on the deeper meaning of their work and the many ways technology can benefit humanity. Increasing mobility for disabled people, providing safe drinking water, and enabling global communications and space travel are just a few examples of how engineering has touched our lives, she said.
“As students and practitioners of engineering, we regularly view the world through the lens of problem-solving,” said Liu. “Our drive to innovate solutions in order to help people can have a transformative impact.”
Liu, who will be stepping down as dean to assume her new role as president of the National Academy of Engineering, acknowledged that she, too, will soon begin a new and exciting chapter in her life. “In a sense, I am graduating from Berkeley together with all of you here, embarking on the next stage of my career,” she said to cheers.
Now ready to take his next step, graduate Lucas Wang (B.S.’25 EECS) reflected on what it means to be a Berkeley engineer. The biggest takeaway, he said, is realizing that even when you’re trying to solve “problems that seem so gargantuan,” you are up to the task. “[A]s long as you chip away with it, or with enough cooperation from other fellow engineers, you can always do what you set out to do,” said Wang.
Graduate Elisa Woodham (B.S.’25 CE) recalled many highlights from her time at Berkeley, but topping the list was the sense of community she experienced through student organizations like Cal Concrete Canoe. For her, commencement will be remembered as a celebration of academic achievement and Golden Bear pride. “[It’s] a culmination of lots of effort, lots of sweat and tears,” she said. “But I’m really excited to be here with all of my friends — and to show off to some family how cool Berkeley is. Go Bears!”