[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

This article was written by Matthew Chupack and Madi Olivier. Photos were taken by Matthew Chupack, Madi Olivier, Jada Chambers and Sophia Ling.

For the first time in three years, Emory University’s graduation and Commencement festivities took place on campus, starting with undergraduate Class Day Crossover on May 5 and culminating in Emory College, Goizueta Business School and the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing undergraduate graduation ceremonies on May 9. In 2020, graduation and Commencement occurred completely virtually while the University hosted modified in-person Commencement and graduation events at the Georgia World Congress Center in 2021. Although students were limited to two guests each at this year’s graduation and Commencement ceremonies, they gathered on the Quadrangle without masks or social distancing, creating an experience that nearly mirrored pre-pandemic events. Below are visual representations of Commencement and various graduation ceremonies honoring Emory’s undergraduate Class of 2022.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][ultimate_heading main_heading=”Class Day Crossover”][/ultimate_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”58028,58027,58026,58025,58024,58023,57998,57999,58000,58001″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Former National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronaut and retired U.S. Navy Capt. and fighter pilot Scott Kelly gave the annual Class Day keynote address on May 5. Class Day is a student-organized event for students receiving their bachelor’s degree. Kelly was the first in-person speaker in three years since current Georgia Gubernatorial Candidate Stacey Abrams addressed the Class of 2019. Photos by Jada Chambers [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58010,58009,58008,58007,58005,58002,58003,58004,58006″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Following Kelly’s address, students walked from the Emory Student Center (ESC) to Asbury Circle with candles in hand. Emory alumni, faculty, staff and trustees are encouraged to line the path and cheer on the graduates. The ceremony symbolizes undergraduates crossing over from student to alumni status. Photos by Jada Chambers [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58021,58020,58019,58018,58017,58011,58012,58013,58015,58016,58014″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The Class of 2022 then entered McDonough Field for a night of music, food, alcohol and celebration. Graduates also participated in a final Coke Toast, a tradition that each student participates in when they initially matriculate into Emory. Photos by Jada Chambers [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][ultimate_heading main_heading=”Multifaith Baccalaureate Ceremony”][/ultimate_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”57980,57987,57988,57978,57977,57976,57982,57984,57985,57973,57965,57962,57963,57974″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Graduates of varying faiths gathered to celebrate their past four years at Emory University during the Multifaith Baccalaureate Ceremony in Cannon Chapel on May 6. University President Gregory Fenves attended to congratulate the seniors and give them commemorative magnets, which included the Muscogee Tribe symbol. Graduates also shared speeches, music and mediations with one another to celebrate their different religions. Photos by Matthew Chupack and Madi Olivier [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][ultimate_heading main_heading=”Legacy Medallion Ceremony”][/ultimate_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58119,58121,58122,58123,58124,58125,58126,58127,58129,58130,58131,58132″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58133,58134,58135,58136,58137,58138,58139,58140,58141,58142″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] It sprinkled as legacy graduates and their families arrived at the Patterson Green near the Goizueta Business School early in the morning to eat pastries, eggs, coffee and more before the Legacy Medallion Ceremony on May 7. Parents, grandparents and other relatives who had graduated from Emory caught up with their old classmates, reminiscing on when they were in the seniors’ place years earlier. Other families used the time to have a quiet moment with each other before a hectic graduation weekend. Photos by Madi Olivier [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58143,58144,58145,58146,58147,58148,58150,58151,58152,58153,58154,58155″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58158,58159,58160,58161,58162,58163,58164,58165,58166,58167,58168,58169″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58170,58171,58172,58173,58174,58175,58176,58177,58178,58189,58183,58186″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] After breakfast, legacy graduates and their families filed into the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, where Joe Kokolakis (89L) gave keynote remarks to welcome his daughter Paige Kokolakis (22C) and her fellow seniors into the community of Emory alumni. Family members who previously attended Emory then presented their legacies with a commemorative medallion, representing their family’s commitment to the University through generations. Graduates and their families ended the ceremony by singing the alma mater together. Photos by Madi Olivier [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][ultimate_heading main_heading=”Modupe Dayo”][/ultimate_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58190,58192,58193,58194,58195,58196,58197,58198,58199,58200,58201,58191″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Black graduates celebrated their accomplishments with their families and friends during Modupe Dayo on May 7. Students received stoles at the event, which was an African-themed graduation ceremony in the ESC paying tribute to the graduates’ heritage and ancestors. Photos by Madi Olivier [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][ultimate_heading main_heading=”Celebrating Accomplishments and Recognizing Academic Success (CARAS)”][/ultimate_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58204,58205,58206,58207,58208,58209,58211,58212,58213,58214,58215,58216″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Latinx graduates and their families gathered on McDonough Field for dinner before the CARAS reception on May 7. Latinx music played over the families’ voices as they ate food catered from The Freakin Incan, and graduates received commemorative mugs that said “Latinx at Emory” with pink and green tissue paper. Photos by Matthew Chupack and Madi Olivier [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58232,58217,58218,58219,58220,58221,58222,58223,58224,58225,58226,58227″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58228,58231,58233,58229,58234,58235,58236,58237,58238,58239,58241,58230″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58240,58242,58243,58244,58245,58246,58247,58248,58249,58250,58251,58252″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58253,58254,58255,58256,58257,58258,58260,58261,58263,58266,58268,58270″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Everyone moved into the ESC for the CARAS ceremony, where about 85 graduates — the most in University history — walked across a stage and were presented with a graduation stole by a chosen family member or friend. Students and their chosen companions embraced on the stage, receiving cheers from the crowd. Several members of the Latinx community at Emory gave speeches and presented awards during the ceremony, which was hosted in both English and Spanish. Photos by Madi Olivier [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][ultimate_heading main_heading=”First-Generation Low Income (FGLI) graduation ceremony “][/ultimate_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58272,58273,58274,58275,58276,58278,58279,58280,58281,58282,58283,58284″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Emory honored graduates who are low income or first-generation college students with a ceremony in the ESC on May 8. Family and friends took the stage with their students to present them with cords and graduation stoles to honor their hard work during their time at Emory. Photos by Jada Chambers [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][ultimate_heading main_heading=”Asian Pacific Islander and Desi American (APIDA) Graduation Ceremony”][/ultimate_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58285,58286,58287,58288,58289,58290,58291,58292,58293,58294,58295,58296″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58297,58298,58299,58300,58301,58302,58303,58304,58305,58306,58307,58308″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58315,58309,58310,58311,58312,58313,58314,58316,58317,58318,58319,58320″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58349,58335,58346,58334,58347,58336,58344,58338,58342,58337,58348,58341″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Asian Pacific Islander and Desi American students gathered in the ESC on May 8 to celebrate their achievements at Emory at the second annual APIDA Graduation Ceremony, marking the first time the event was held in person. Several members of Emory’s APIDA community spoke at the event before students were given graduation stoles by chosen friends and family. New traditions were established at the ceremony, such as the presentation of the first Dr. Jane Yang (98C) award, which was given to Yang herself in honor of her advocacy for APIDA students. Photos by Madi Olivier [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58328,58324,58325,58326,58327,58329,58330,58331,58332″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] After the ceremony, APIDA graduates walked to the ESC Plaza with their friends and family to eat dinner, which included spring rolls, finger sandwiches and steamed rice cakes filled with purple yam jam by Kamayan ATL. The Plaza was loud as graduates and their families talked with each other and posed for photos. Photos by Madi Olivier [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][ultimate_heading main_heading=”Commencement Ceremony”][/ultimate_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58351,58352,58353,58354,58355,58356,58357,58358,58359,58360,58361,58362″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58370,58372,58363,58364,58365,58366,58371,58373,58369,58368,58367,58374″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”58376,58375,58377,58378,58379,58380,58381,58382,58383,58384″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Graduates and their families began filing onto the Quadrangle before 7 a.m. for the early-morning Commencement ceremony on May 9, which was held before the individual graduation ceremonies. By the time the ceremony began at 8:30 a.m, the thousands of white plastic chairs that were lined up on the grass were filled. Director, producer, actor and screenwriter Tyler Perry gave the keynote address, while Fenves and former Student Government Association President Rachel Ding (20Ox, 22B) also gave speeches, reflecting on the Class of 2022’s resilience during the pandemic. Photos by Sophia Ling [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

+ posts

Editor-in-Chief | Matthew Chupack (he/him, 24C) is from Northbrook, Illinois, majoring in sociology & religion and minoring in community building & social change on a pre-law track. Outside of the Wheel, Chupack serves on the Emory College Honor Council, is vice president of Behind the Glass: Immigration Reflections, Treasurer of Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society and an RA in Dobbs Hall. In his free time, he enjoys trying new restaurants around Atlanta, catching up on pop culture news and listening to country music.

+ posts

Madi Olivier is from Highland Village, Texas, and is majoring in psychology and minoring in rhetoric, writing and information design. Outside of the Wheel, she is involved in psychology research and works for the Trevor Project. In her free time, you can find her trying not to fall while bouldering and watching Criminal Minds with her cat.