On June 16, 2025, Pauley Pavilion was filled with celebration and pride as the Department of Statistics and Data Science held its Commencement Ceremony for the graduating Class of 2025. The event opened with a warm welcome from Department Chair Dr. Qing Zhou, setting the tone for a program that honored academic excellence, personal growth, and community achievement.
Kevin Hamakawa, earning his Bachelor of Science in Statistics & Data Science and now an Associate Product Manager at NBCUniversal, delivered the Undergraduate Address titled “Finding Humanity in Statistics.” His remarks eloquently highlighted the human impact of statistical work, inspiring graduates to use their skills with empathy and purpose. The ceremony also recognized the continued success of the DataFest, and Co-Director Dr. Linda Zanontian introduced the 2025 DataFest award winners.
This year’s student awards showcased the breadth of talent in the department. Hannah Li received the Teaching Assistant of the Year award, and PhD candidate Guanao Yan was honored with the Outstanding PhD Award. The Most Promising Statistician Award was shared by Yingqi Gao and Yasi Zhang, while Sean Mulherin and Chenheng Xu received the Outstanding Masters Award. Sophie Philips was recognized with the Don Ylvisaker Award for the Best Practice of Statistics. Dr. Brian Kriegler, Managing Director of Econ One Research and founder of EmployeeMetrics, delivered the Commencement Address, “In a World of Noise, Be the Signal.” A proud alumnus, Dr. Kriegler received his PhD from our department in 2007.
Degrees were conferred across all programs, including the PhD in Statistics (10), Master of Science in Statistics (12), Master of Applied Statistics & Data Science (30), and the Bachelor’s degrees in both Statistics & Data Science (204) and Data Theory (63). The department also celebrated students who completed minors in Statistics & Data Science (65) and Social Data Science (11). The graduating class represented an impressive range of research, academic accomplishments, and career trajectories.
The department extends heartfelt congratulations to all graduates and their families. As our newest alumni, we look forward to their future successes and contributions to the field. The 2025 Commencement not only marked the end of an academic journey but also the beginning of promising new chapters for each of our graduates.