Dr. Oscar Arias, the former President of Costa Rica, will deliver the commencement address to the graduating class of the University of Washington Bothell at its 22nd Commencement Ceremony. The event takes place at 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, June 16 in Hec Edmundson Pavilion, Alaska Airlines Arena, at the University of Washington Seattle campus. About 1,400 students will receive degrees.
Arias served two terms as President of Costa Rica. His first term spanned from 1986 to 1990; he was re-elected in 2006, serving until 2010. He is best known for convening the presidents of El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua to agree to a peace agreement. The Procedure to Establish a Firm and Lasting Peace committed the five governments to dialogue, guarantee of the inviolability of life, cease-fire, and free elections.
Arias was born in 1940. He studied in Boston before enrolling at the University of Costa Rica for law and economic studies. In the 1960’s he began working for the National Liberation Party. In 1970 he was the assistant to Jose Figueres, a former president seeking reelection. Arias earned his doctorate in political science from the University of Essex in England with his provocative thesis published in 1971, “Who Rules Costa Rica?”
The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Arias in 1987 for his tireless efforts to bringing peace to Central America. With the monetary award that comes with the Nobel Peace Prize, Arias formed the Arias Foundation for Peace & Human Progress. The foundation promotes peace, justice and equality in Central America.
For more information about the commencement ceremony, contact Lisa Walker, Commencement Coordinator at (425) 352.3663 orcommencement@uwb.edu.