Stanford’s 130th Commencement was almost normal, and man did it feel good. While department ceremonies and Baccalaureate were virtual, seniors celebrated with a Countdown to Commencement party, and the university held two in-person ceremonies—one to confer 3,274 graduate degrees, the other to bestow 1,436 bachelor’s degrees—spread across the stadium grass over two days and with chairs in precise, socially distanced lines. Surgeon, public health researcher and author Atul Gawande, ’87, advised advanced degree candidates to embrace opportunity. Actor, writer and producer Issa Rae, ’07, encouraged the senior class to stay connected. “Trust and believe that your Stanford family will show up for you—in unexpected ways.”
And then there were the little things: walking wackily, waving at real guests in the stands, putting arms around friends and tossing mortarboards into the cloud-dappled azure sky. After everything, the Class of 2021 graduated in real life, together.
Photo: Andrew Brodhead
Photo: Andrew Brodhead
Photo: David Gonzales, ’93
Photo: David Gonzales, ’93
Photo: Erin Attkisson
Photo: Andrew Brodhead
Photo: Andrew Brodhead
Photo: Andrew Brodhead
