By Izabela Zaluska

More than 2,300 undergraduate students will receive their degrees from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences this spring. During commencement ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, graduates will receive a message from a fellow student.  

Meet the morning speaker: Reed Niebauer

Reed Niebauer, of Cresson, Pennsylvania, will speak at the 9 a.m. ceremony. He will receive a Bachelor of Arts in cinema and communication studies. Niebauer is graduating with distinction.

Niebauer grew up a Hawkeye fan, but it wasn’t until he visited campus that he saw himself attending the University of Iowa.  

“I just instantly felt at home in Iowa City and picked up on the sense of community here right away, and I knew before leaving to fly home that Iowa would be what's next for me,” Niebauer said.

Niebauer said he got to explore the “full range of possibilities” within his majors, including filming and editing short films, thinking critically about movies, writing and producing sitcoms, and more. He highlighted the community and support in his classes, both from the faculty members and his classmates.

Niebauer added how being a part of the Hawkeye Spirit Squad was an influential experience and made him feel even more united and connected to the university and larger community in Iowa City.

"Being exposed to so many new things and different people was a catalyst for my growth,” Niebauer said.  

He will focus his student address on finding purpose and being yourself.  

"By finding out who you are and embracing it, your reason for being makes itself clear,” Niebauer said. “That's how you find fulfillment—by connecting with who you were before the world got a say in it.”

After graduation, Niebauer hopes to work in the film industry in some capacity, whether it be writing, acting, editing or filming.

Meet the afternoon speaker: Angela Boateng

Angela Boateng, of Anthem, Arizona, will speak at the 1 p.m. ceremony. She will receive a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a minor in cinema. Boateng is graduating with honors in political science and with highest distinction.

Boateng was drawn to the University of Iowa because of its renowned writing program.

“As a cinema minor with a strong interest in screenwriting, I deeply value programs that emphasize storytelling and creative expression,” Boateng said. “Iowa’s strong literary culture, combined with its unique location, made it a top choice for me.”

Boateng decided to study political science because of her “deep interest in how political systems influence nearly every aspect of our daily lives.” Her major allowed her to view historical events through a broader, more analytical lens.

She was also actively involved in both research and literary organizations during her time at Iowa. Boateng served as a drama editor for Earthwords, an undergraduate literary magazine, and conducted two separate research projects with Department of Political Science associate professor Brian Lai.

People are often surprised she is majoring in political science and minoring in cinema because the two fields don’t naturally align. Being a student in CLAS allowed her to explore her interests and pursue both areas, she said.

“During my time in CLAS, I discovered that it's possible to blend future career goals with what genuinely brings you joy,” Boateng said. “I gained not only the academic foundation for my future career but also essential skills like communication and teamwork."

Boateng’s address will focus on the passage of time and the unique gift it represents. She also wants to remind her fellow students that what they’ve accomplished is meaningful and worth celebrating.

"The important thing is that we’ve grown, we’ve learned, and we’ve moved forward,” Boateng said. “Because in the end, time waits for no one. It's up to us to make the most of it and keep pushing forward.”

Boateng is a semi-finalist for a Fulbright Program in North Macedonia, and if selected, she will spend nine months teaching English there. Otherwise, she plans to work as a paralegal in Arizona for a year before attending law school.