Published: May 2016
k
Scenes from the University’s 140th Commencement, on May 23, 2016.
Linden Lane, 7:45 a.m.: Students in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences begin to assemble. Coffee and a light breakfast was offered before the procession began at 8:45.
Photograph: Lee Pellegrini
Biochemistry major Chuda Rijal ’16 with, from left, his brother, Yadap, mother, Devi, and father, Dilli. Born in a refugee camp in Nepal, the Bhutanese Rijal became a U.S. citizen during his freshman year, at a naturalization ceremony in Robsham Theater.
Photograph: Lee Pellegrini
Communication major Julia Covino ’16 (left) and Lynch School of Education student Jace Eddy ’16, one of many with a personalized mortarboard.
Photograph: Lee Pellegrini
Philosophy major Ellen Hedstrom ’16, with parents Tom ’77 and Jennifer.
Photograph: Lee Pellegrini
Students gathered on Linden Lane before assembling by school and processing by several routes to Alumni Stadium. In all, 2,175 undergraduate and 1,330 graduate degrees were conferred.
Photograph: Lee Pellegrini
From left, John Fish, chair of the Board of Trustees; Ernest Moniz ’66, U.S. Secretary of Energy and the day’s Commencement speaker; and University President William P. Leahy, SJ, walk toward the platform in Alumni Stadium.
Photograph: Lee Pellegrini
Some 20,000 family and friends attended. The temperature was 68 degrees as the ceremony began at 10:00 under a clear blue sky.
Photograph: Lee Pellegrini
Moniz called on the Class of 2016 to reverse the trends of climate change and “lowest common denominator social and political discourse.” “Every skill set that you have acquired,” he said, “must be brought to bear to address these issues.”
Photograph: Gary Wayne Gilbert
Fr. Leahy and Fish award Marissa Marandola ’16 her degree as the representative of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Class of 2016. A 2015 Truman Scholar and editor of the undergraduate research journal Elements, the political science major also received the 2016 Edward J. Finnegan, SJ, Award, the University’s highest undergraduate honor. Marandola will attend Harvard Law School in the fall.
Photograph: Gary Wayne Gilbert
Accounting major Jose Alvarez ’16 and fellow graduates of the Carroll School of Management.
Photograph: Lee Pellegrini
Graduates of the Lynch School of Education celebrate as their class’s representative, Patricia Garibaldi ’16, receives her degree.
Photograph: Lee Pellegrini
The ceremony concluded with “Hail! Alma Mater!” and “For Boston,” performed by the University Wind Ensemble and Chorale and accompanied by graduates’ and visitors’ voices. Then came a sing-along to Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” which played over the public address system.
Photograph: Lee Pellegrini
Between the full University Commencement and the individual schools’ diploma ceremonies, families met up beneath the statue of Doug Flutie ’85 on the plaza outside Alumni Stadium.
Photograph: Lee Pellegrini
Kadiatu Tejan ’16 with her family and friends on O’Neill Plaza after the Connell School of Nursing’s diploma ceremony.
Photograph: Lee Pellegrini
Connell School of Nursing graduate Alicia Vautour ’16 became the fifth child of Fred (right), a night-shift custodian at Robsham Theater, and Debbie Vautour to earn a degree from Boston College. Behind them, from left, are Alicia’s sister-in-law Lily Vautour, nephew Adam, and brothers Michael ’09 and John ’04.
Photograph: Lee Pellegrini