See the sights of commencement at all of Pitt’s campuses

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

“Remember, you don’t run this race alone. Everyone you meet is carrying dreams and battles you can’t see. So be kind. Be curious. Be human. Because this world isn’t just about your story. It’s about how your story weaves into others. It’s about building something together.”

— Larry Fitzgerald Jr., former NFL and Pitt Panther star speaking at Pitt’s 2025 commencement on May 4 at PPG Paints Arena

Commencement ceremonies were held at all of Pitt’s campuses on May 3 and 4, mostly for undergraduates, with the hoopla wrapping up this weekend with celebrations on May 17 for the School of Dental Medicine and May 18 for the School of Medicine.

Here are some facts about spring commencement 2025:

3,081 students crossed the stage at PPG Paints Arena on May 4 to receive their degrees. The move was made to the downtown venue to accommodate more graduates and their families. In total, there were more than 5,000 students in Pitt’s largest-ever graduating class. Larry Fitzgerald Jr. gave the commencement address and received an honorary doctorate.
Around 400 graduated at Pitt–Johnstown on May 4, with ABC News correspondent Stephanie Ramos as the speaker.
213 graduates were honored in two ceremonies at Pitt-Greensburg. Col. Nancy Anderson, an author who served as a battalion commander and base commander for the U.S. Marines, delivered a personalized address at both ceremonies.
183 graduates were celebrated at Pitt-Bradford on May 3. Yvon Woappi (UPB ’11), an assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University, gave the commencement address and received the Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association’s Alumni Award of Distinction
Five associate of science in nursing degree recipients — all from Pennsylvania — were recognized during a May 3 pinning ceremony at Pitt-Titusville.

“It’s been a special honor for all of us to walk beside you on this journey, knowing that you leave here with everything you need for a successful career, for a healthy life and for a life well-lived, in ways that will unfold for you. You’ve leaned learned a lot and endured a lot, but you are resilient, resourceful and inspiring. Congratulations!”

— Chancellor Joan Gabel at the Pittsburgh ceremony on May 4.

Former Pitt football and NFL star Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was awarded an honorary doctorate during the commencement ceremony May 4 at PPG Paints Arena. (Tom Altany | University of Pittsburgh)
Students celebrate receiving their diplomas at PPG Paints Arena. (Aimee Obidzinski | University of Pittsburgh)
Students and families wait to enter PPG Paints Arena on May 4. (Aimee Obidzinsk | University of Pittsburgh)
Students celebrate receiving their diplomas at PPG Paints Arena. (Aimee Obidzinski | University of Pittsburgh)
Confetti drops from the ceiling after degrees were conferred on Pitt's largest class ever at PPG Paints Arena. (Tom Altany | University of Pittsburgh
Pitt–Johnstown President Jem Spectar addresses students during commencement May 4 on the campus. (Photo by Bridge Perspective)
Students wait patiently to receive their degrees at Pitt–Johnstown. (Photo by Bridge Perspective)
Pitt–Greensburg students line up in the Chambers Hall gym for one of two commencement ceremonies on May 3. (Susan Isola | Pitt–Greensburg)
Pitt–Greensburg President Robert Gregerson greeted each graduate during the two commencement ceremonies. (Susan Isola | Pitt–Greensburg)
Yvon Woappi (UPB ’11), an assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University, gave the commencement address and received the Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association’s Alumni Award of Distinction. (Photo by Glenn Melvin)
Ciana Verdusco, a first-generation student and forensic science major from Saginaw, Mich., and Shania Brown, a veteran and liberal studies student from Brooklyn, N.Y., at Pitt–Bradford commencement on May 3. (Photo by Glenn Melvin)