Commencement 2019 Celebrated Graduates and Distinguished Honorary Degree Recipients

Graduating Columbia students at Commencement.
Columbia College Chicago honored nearly 1,800 graduating students and three honorary degree recipients.

On May 11 and 12, Columbia College Chicago held its Commencement ceremonies at the historic Auditorium Theatre. Nearly 1,800 graduate and undergraduate students were honored in four ceremonies.

The college presented honorary degrees to three distinguished individuals: real estate and community developer Elzie L. Higginbottom, scholar and human rights advocate Cheryl Johnson-Odim, and former Chicago Public Media news host and alum Tony Sarabia ’92. The ceremonies were held at the beautiful and historic Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr. (formerly Congress Parkway) on Saturday, May 11, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and on Sunday, May 12, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Congratulations to all of our graduates!

Don't forget to see some of the highlights from the big day on social media with #columbiachi2019.

Commencement Schedule

Saturday, May 1110 a.m. (Saturday live stream archive)

  • Honorary Degree Recipient: Tony Sarabia ’92
  • Creative Writing
  • Cultural Studies
  • Dance (including Creative Arts Therapies)
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Fashion Studies
  • Theatre

Saturday, May 112 p.m. (Saturday live stream archive)

  • Honorary Degree Recipient: Elzie L. Higginbottom
  • Audio Arts and Acoustics
  • Business and Entrepreneurship
  • Communication (including Radio)

Sunday, May 1210 a.m. (Sunday live stream archive)

  • Honorary Degree Recipient: Cheryl Johnson-Odim
  • American Sign Language
  • Art and Materials Conservation
  • Cinema and Television Arts
  • Science and Math

Sunday, May 122 p.m. (Sunday live stream archive)

  • Honorary Degree Recipient: Cheryl Johnson-Odim
  • Art and Art History
  • Design
  • Interactive Arts and Media (including Animation)
  • Music
  • Photography

Download the 2019 Commencement Booklet

For more information please contact 312.369.7459 or commencement@colum.edu.