A picture-perfect graduation day at CU Boulder—smiling students walk with pride, framed by the stunning Flatirons, the majestic Rocky Mountains, and the signature red rooftops of the university campus.

There’s a certain electricity in the air when graduation rolls around in Boulder. The campus blooms with black caps, golden stoles, proud families, and a palpable sense of achievement. Against the majestic backdrop of the Flatirons, the University of Colorado Boulder sends off another class of bold, brilliant Buffs into the world—ready to make their mark.

This year’s graduating class carries on a proud tradition that stretches back more than a century. CU Boulder has long stood as a pillar of academic excellence, innovation, and adventure. From groundbreaking research in aerospace and environmental science to trailblazing performances in music, athletics, and activism, the university cultivates not just students—but visionaries.

To graduate from CU Boulder is to join a powerful legacy. Some of the most influential figures in a wide range of fields once walked these very paths. Among the university’s most notable alumni is Robert Redford, the iconic actor and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. Trey Parker, co-creator of South Park, turned his CU film class project into a cultural phenomenon. Matt Stone, Parker’s creative partner, is also a proud Buff.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, CU Boulder film students turned cultural icons, launched South Park from a class project at the University of Colorado. This creative tribute captures the show’s origins in Boulder, where the Flatirons watched over the birth of animated satire history.

In the world of science and technology, CU has produced figures like Scott Carpenter, one of the original Mercury astronauts, and Eric Allin Cornell, who earned a Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on Bose-Einstein condensates. Even in sports, CU Boulder has a storied history, with names like Chauncey Billups, former NBA star and coach, and Mason Crosby, longtime kicker for the Green Bay Packers.

CU Boulder alumnus Scott Carpenter returns from his historic Mercury-Atlas 7 mission, greeted as a national hero. A pioneer of space exploration and proud Buff, Carpenter’s legacy continues to inspire generations at the foot of the Flatirons.

But beyond the celebrity names and accolades, there’s something deeply personal and powerful about a CU Boulder graduation. It means surviving finals at Norlin Library, soaking in sunset views from Farrand Field, and finding lifelong friendships over coffee at The Laughing Goat or hikes up Chautauqua Trail. It means growing in mind and spirit—and maybe even changing the world in the process.

This Faces of Boulder Graduation Edition captures the joy, pride, and possibility in each of the smiling graduates.Their faces tell stories of late nights, hard-earned breakthroughs, and moments of awe beneath the Colorado sky. They are our future entrepreneurs, educators, engineers, artists, and advocates.

To be a Buff is to never walk alone. It means being part of a global community, united by the shared experience of learning and living in one of the most breathtaking college towns in the world.

So here’s to the Class of 2025. May your next chapter be as extraordinary as the one you’ve just closed—and may the spirit of Boulder always be with you.

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