A lot of pomp, a lot of circumstance and a little rain

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Chancellor Patrick Gallagher told members of the graduating class of 2021 that their resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic has not been taken for granted.

“Your work, your sacrifice, and your growth in profound ways both personal and professional, have paid off,” Gallagher said at the May 4 commencement ceremony for the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences and the College of General Studies. “They brought you to this moment, and whether you doubted whether you could make it to this day, this accomplishment is now yours forever.”

Students in the class of 2021 have been able to celebrate virtually and in-person this year, compared to last year’s strictly virtual ceremony.

Several ceremonies were held at PNC Park and the Peterson Events Center, where graduates sat socially distanced with masks on per COVID safety guidelines. In-person attendees could bring two guests with them.

The remaining in-person ceremonies will be held at the Petersen Events Center on May 8 for the School of Law, May 15 for the School of Dental Medicine and May 24 for the School of Medicine.

For more information, and to view livestreams of past and future ceremonies, visit the University of Pittsburgh’s commencement website.

Pitt also granted three honorary degrees during the commencement ceremonies. Read more about them on Pittwire.

— Donovan Harrell

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Undergraduate students from Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences and the College of General Studies had their commencement on May 4 at PNC Park. (Mike Drazdzinski | University of Pittsburgh)
Nursing students skipped the traditional graduation gowns for matching white scrubs and candles on April 30 at Petersen Events Center. (Tom Altany | University of Pittsburgh)
(From left) Kathleen Blee, dean of the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, Provost Ann Cudd and Chancellor Patrick Gallagher head to the stage at the April 30 ceremony at PNC Park. (Mike Drazdzinski | University of Pittsburgh)
Signs around campus had lists of this years graduating seniors and graduate and professional students. (Aimee Obidzinski | University of Pittsburgh)
A student of Emergency Medicine shows off her bedecked mortarboard at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences commencement on May 2 at Petersen Events Center. (Aimee Obidzinski | University of Pittsburgh)
Students from the College of Business Administration had to endure some rain during their commencement ceremony May 3 at PNC Park. (Aimee Obidzinski | University of Pittsburgh)
Chancellor Patrick Gallagher made the rounds at all the commencement ceremonies, including the one for the College of Business Administration at PNC Park. (Aimee Obidzinski | University of Pittsburgh)
Swanson School of Engineering Dean Jimmy Martin greets a graduating student on the stage at PNC Park on May 3. (Mike Drazdzinski | University of Pittsburgh)
University Senate President Chris Bonneau, who serves at University marshal, opens the graduation ceremony for the Swanson School of Engineering. (Mike Drazdzinski | University of Pittsburgh)
A student celebrates after receiving her diploma on May 2 at Petersen Events Center. (Tom Altany | University of Pittsburgh)
Students from the Schools of Education, Social Work and Computing and Information Sciences shared a ceremony on May 2 at Petersen Events Center. (Tom Altany | University of Pittsburgh)