May 22 — Saturday’s Yale College Commencement celebrations incorporated aspects of four traditional university rituals: the undergraduate Baccalaureate service, diploma ceremonies, Yale College Class Day, and university Commencement exercises. The graduates, who attended one of three separate ceremonies based on residential college affiliation, had the opportunity to walk across the stage as their names were read aloud.
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Scenes from Commencement 2021, Day 2: Yale College
Yale College graduates, who attended one of three ceremonies based on residential college affiliation, celebrated Commencement on Saturday, May 22.
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1 / 19At 10 a.m., residents of Grace Hopper, Jonathan Edwards, Trumbull (pictured), Silliman, and Ezra Stiles Colleges were participated in the day’s first Commencement ceremony.
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2 / 19Graduates proceed across Elm Street to Old Campus.
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3 / 19Graduates from Benjamin Franklin College on their way to the 1 p.m. ceremony. Graduates from Berkeley, Davenport, and Pauli Murray Colleges also participated in the afternoon’s first Commencement event.
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4 / 19Standard-bearers arrive on Old Campus from Jonathan Edwards College.
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5 / 19“LiMurs” from Pauli Murray College arrive through Phelps Gate. The Yale College Class of 2021 includes the first graduating seniors from Pauli Murray and Benjamin Franklin Colleges, which were established in 2017.
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6 / 19Standing and seated alike, graduates expressed the spirit of the day.
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7 / 19A view from the Stiles section.
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8 / 19“Sillimanders” strike a pose.
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9 / 19Making waves with the graduates of Davenport College.
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10 / 19University officers arrive to take the stage. In the center are President Peter Salovey and Yale College Dean Marvin Chun.
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11 / 19Dean Chun offers introductory remarks.
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12 / 19President Salovey addresses the graduates.
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13 / 19For the first time since May 2019, graduates had the opportunity to walk across the stage to receive their diplomas.
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14 / 19Behind the scenes.
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15 / 19A triumphant graduate.
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16 / 19Even masked, many graduates couldn’t contain their smiles.
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17 / 19Cheering on a classmate.
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18 / 19Graduates make their second procession of the day — this time from the stage.
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19 / 19While parents and guests were not able to attend the ceremony itself, many were waiting outside on High Street to congratulate their graduates.