SOKA Newsletter June 2025

Volume 5, Issue 8 | June 2025

SUA's Class of 2025 smile and throw their caps in the air after commencement.

'We Are Radically Resilient': SUA Awards Degrees to Class of 2025

On Commencement Day, the Class of 2025 and keynote speaker Orlando Bloom remind us that resilience isn’t just about surviving — it’s about creating value for others.

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Four members of SUA's Class of 2025 smile in their cap and gown during commencement day.

SUA to the World: Student Voices on Commencement Day

What will SUA graduates remember most? What will they carry with them into the future? Watch these moving clips from our 2025 Commencement to find out!

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Herbie Hancock wears a black suit jacket over a light purple shirt and a dark purple tie. He is wearing tinted sunglasses and smiles as he stands with his arms crossed outside on Soka's campus.

'Creativity is Something We Do Every Day': An Interview With 2025 Soka Global Citizen Award Recipient Herbie Hancock

International jazz icon and 2025 Soka Global Citizen Award recipient Herbie Hancock reflects on creativity and the inclusivity of jazz and shares insights with Soka students striving to use their education to serve humanity.

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Founders Hall and Peace lake with the text ''Founder's Corner''

"In any event, over the course of your long lives, you will come to know that the greater one's purpose in life, the greater obstacles one is bound to confront. You should also be aware, however, that the way to overcome such challenges, regardless of how trying or adverse they may be, will always be found."

— Daisaku Ikeda, Message to the Fourth Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony

Lucas Colombo ’27 smiles at the camera as he walks among flowers on SUA's campus during the annual Heart of a Lion walk/run.

Honoring Lucas Colombo: A Light That Shines On

The SUA community gathered for a candlelight vigil and a memorial ceremony to honor the life of Lucas Colombo '27. See how both events reflected the warmth, spirit, and enduring legacy of Lucas at SUA.

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Composite image of the 6 featured professors, Shane Barter, Ryan Allen, Marie Nydam, Katherine Perry, Sandrine Siméon, and Deike Peters

What Can You Learn in 90 Seconds?: SUA Professors Bring Big Ideas to NPR's 'The Academic Minute'

Six SUA professors shared their expertise — from coral reefs to graph theory — on NPR's nationally syndicated "Academic Minute," showcasing the breadth and global relevance of research at SUA.

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Participants of the 2025 Peace and Reconciliation in East Asia project symposium gather for a group photo in front of a Soka University banner.

Healing Through Memory: Global Scholars Tackle East Asia's Difficult Past

How can communities around the world confront painful histories to build lasting peace? Explore highlights from the Soka Institute for Global Solutions' recent symposium on Peace and Reconciliation in East Asia, featuring research presentations, a roundtable discussion, and a photography exhibition.

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Sunlight reflects off Curie Hall on SUA's campus.

SUA Earns STARS Silver, Reaffirms Commitment to Sustainability

Soka University of America has regained its STARS Silver rating for sustainability. Learn how SUA continues to lead in environmental stewardship across academics, operations, and student engagement.

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Four people pose with props in front of an SUA campus backdrop during the 2025 Soka Homecoming event.

SUA's First-Ever Homecoming: A Celebration of Community and Connection

Enjoy photos from SUA's first Homecoming, which brought together students, alumni, staff, faculty, and families for an unforgettable day of connection and community.

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FREE OUTDOOR EVENTS AT SOKA THIS SUMMER

Summer at Soka is here! We are pleased to welcome you to a series of outdoor events on the Campus Green. Bring a picnic, blankets, and low-backed beach chairs along with your friends and family.