UTA College of Business hosts Hooding Ceremony for Master of Business Administration students
The University of Texas at Arlington College of Business held a Hooding Ceremony for students graduating with a Master of Business Administration degree on December 12, 2024.
A Hooding Ceremony is a time-honored tradition where graduate students are presented with their college’s academic hood prior to commencement while highlighting their accomplishment in a smaller, more intimate audience.
“A hooding ceremony is a celebration of our students moving onto the next stage of their academic career and attaining their master’s degree. The hood represents that commitment to a scholarly life,” said Scott Elbert, UTA College of Business Senior Director of Academic Advising. “It symbolizes that along with graduation, our students pursue knowledge and constantly strive for self-improvement.”
Students of the University of Texas at Arlington College of Business MBA program pose for a photo after a Hooding Ceremony on December 12, 2024. (Courtesy Photo)
After a long hiatus, the UTA College of Business revived this tradition to create a lasting memory for their alumni, and allow families to celebrate with their students in a more personal setting.
“This hooding ceremony serves as a more intimate event in conjunction with commencement. Being in a smaller setting, it really appeals to the students’ families, where they can interact and get a better view,” Elbert said. “It gives families a chance to experience their accomplishments along with the students. While our students make sacrifices with coursework and time, their families also help them along in the background, and we want to give them a chance to celebrate as well.”
To many students, the closeness of the event brought a deep sense of accomplishment, and that feeling was shared with their loved ones as they crossed the stage after receiving their hood from College of Business leadership.
“This is a smaller ceremony, and my family was right there with me. The event was also about honoring them and sharing that accomplishment. I was up there because of my hard work, but that was only made possible because of the support they gave me,” said Johanna Hernandez, UTA College of Business Alumni. “Having my family there was great because they got to be a part of my celebration.”
The hooding ceremony brought classmates together and fostered a sense of camaraderie between students, their families, College of Business leadership, and faculty. With a goal of creating a close-knit celebration, this hooding ceremony created lasting memories for the students and their families alike.
“Being able to receive my hood with my classmates, knowing how we supported each other, and then getting to meet their families made it a very powerful evening,” Hernandez said. “I was not nervous to cross the stage and receive my hood, it felt like home.”