Dear Firebird Community,
I hope you all had a wonderful semester. Over the past month, UDC has experienced remarkable moments of celebration and achievement that reflect the spirit, resilience and accomplishments of our community.
As we continue advancing our strategic plan goal of providing impactful service through community-focused initiatives, I am thrilled to share the many ways we are bringing this vision to life across the District. This semester, our commitment to community engagement and economic impact was demonstrated through a series of powerful partnerships and events.
We proudly celebrated the grand opening of MOM's Organic Market at our Van Ness campus, transforming UDC retail space into a vibrant hub for sustainable, community-centered commerce. Our dedication to food sustainability expanded with the launch of a new farmers market at East Capitol Urban Farm, joining our existing markets at Van Ness and Lamond-Riggs, each serving as a bridge to healthy food access and community connection.
We also embraced global engagement by partnering with Events DC to host the Around the World Embassy Tour, welcoming visitors from across the globe to experience international collaboration right here on our campus. Continuing our commitment to economic mobility, we partnered with Pepco to host the Career Resource and Energy Showcase, providing career pathways and learning opportunities that empower our students and community members alike.
These initiatives are powerful examples of UDC's mission in action, reflecting our commitment to be a catalyst for workforce and economic mobility, environmental sustainability and community transformation.
As the semester comes to a close, we also celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of our students. Our colleges and schools held pinning ceremonies and honors convocations, recognizing academic success, leadership and the meaningful transitions of our students as they prepare for the next chapter of their journey.
We were honored to recognize three extraordinary individuals: C. Brian Williams, Gina F. Adams and Wil Haygood during a beautiful Honorand Reception ahead of Commencement, celebrating their impactful contributions to the arts, corporate governance and journalism.
We concluded the semester with an inspiring Commencement Ceremony, a day filled with pride, purpose and the signature Firebird spirit. More than 770 graduates crossed the stage, symbolizing the future of workforce innovation and community leadership. We celebrated their perseverance, resilience and boundless potential as they embark on their next journey.
These moments reflect UDC's unwavering commitment to community, education and progress. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together and look forward to building on this momentum in the months to come.
I hope this semester and academic year have been filled with growth, celebration and meaningful achievements. Now, it is time for a well-deserved break.
Thank you for your dedication and for being an essential part of this journey.
In Service,
Maurice D. Edington, Ph.D.
President
University of the District of Columbia