At Berkeley, even the smallest details carry the weight of a story — and no Commencement tradition captures that quite like the graduation cap. This year’s Class of 2025 didn’t just walk the stage. They painted it, rhinestoned it, honored it in every language and legacy they carry. From hand-lettered quotes to vibrant florals, stitched dedications to pop culture odes, each cap was more than a personal statement — it was a love letter. To their families. To their roots. To the friends who stayed up with them the night before a final. To the dreams they chased across this campus. There were caps that said, “I did it for my parents.” Caps that said, “And so the adventure begins.” Caps that said nothing at all — just colors, textures, and symbols stitched from lived experience. In a stadium filled with thousands, these tiny square canvases became billboards of resilience and identity. They made visible what we so often carry quietly: gratitude, ambition, memory, and joy. The Class of 2025 didn’t just earn their degrees. They left their mark in sequins and script, in petals and protest, in sparkle and soul. And when the wind lifted their tassels — even for a moment — it felt like Berkeley nodding back. #CalGrad2025 #BerkeleyBound #CapsOffToYou #GoldenBearsForever #GraduationStyle #BerkeleyStories #CalPride #BerkeleyTradition #StudentVoices #ClassOf2025 📸 Courtesy of Keegan Houser / UC Berkeley (fb)

Widely recognized for her visionary leadership and ability to get things done, Cynt Marshall ‘81 has consistently achieved business results through inclusion — and a relentless focus on people and operational excellence. Marshall’s professional career is marked with an emphasis on inclusion and culture transformation, from her work as senior vice president of human resources and chief diversity officer at AT&T to her founding of the consulting firm Marshalling Resources. Most recently, she made history by becoming the first Black female CEO in the NBA when she joined the Dallas Mavericks in 2018. Her efforts resulted in a safer and more inclusive environment for the Mavericks and the broader sports community as a whole. Marshall graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in business administration and human resources management. Deeply engaged in supporting the university, she serves as a highly valued member of the university’s Board of Visitors, and she was last year’s Spring Commencement keynote speaker. In support of Cal Athletics, she helped create a scholarship for Cal student-athletes and has given generously to the Athletic Director’s Excellence Fund. Marshall is this year’s recipient of the Alum of the Year Award, which honors a prominent alum who exemplifies the very best of Berkeley. The award will be presented at this year’s Berkeley Charter Gala. #UCBerkeley #AchievementAwards (fb)