CEI to celebrate 2025 graduates at commencement ceremony

The following is a news release from College of Eastern Idaho.

IDAHO FALLS – College of Eastern Idaho will host its 2025 Commencement Ceremony on Tuesday, May 13 at 7 p.m. at the Hero Arena in the Mountain America Center. CEI’s Nurse Pinning Ceremony will also take place earlier in the day at the same venue, honoring nursing graduates as they prepare to enter the healthcare field.

This year, 458 students will graduate from CEI, earning associate degrees, technical certificates, and GED diplomas — a powerful reflection of the college’s mission to provide accessible, affordable, and high-quality education to the eastern Idaho community.

The evening will feature a dynamic lineup of speakers, including student speaker Aisha Nalder, who currently serves as Student Senate President. Nalder is known across campus for her leadership and involvement in Phi Theta Kappa and numerous student clubs.

Ethan Huffman, a member of CEI’s Board of Trustees and Manager of Strategic Government Communications at Idaho National Laboratory, will also address the graduating class. His expertise in public affairs and science communication offers graduates a unique perspective on leadership and impact.

Representing the Idaho State Board of Education, Cindy Siddoway will deliver remarks. A graduate of Idaho State University and South Fremont High School, Siddoway owns and operates a historic family sheep ranch in eastern Idaho and also manages an elk and bison hunting preserve. She is a long-standing advocate for education and agriculture in Idaho and a former trustee of West Jefferson School District 253.

The ceremony will conclude with an address from CEI President Dr. Lori Barber, celebrating the accomplishments of CEI’s Class of 2025 and looking ahead to their next chapter.

Commencement is open to the public, and friends, family, and community members are encouraged to attend and support the graduates as they mark this milestone achievement.