51ÁÔÆæ mens basketball coach Patrick Baldwin gives the commencement address for the graduating class of 2021. (51ÁÔÆæ Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Honorary Doctor of Community Health degree recipient Belinda Pittman turns to Chancellor Mark Mone after being hooded by Dean Kim Litwack of the College of Nursing. Since 1994, Pittman has led Nia Imani Family Inc., a Milwaukee nonprofit organization that began offering critical services to women with histories of homelessness and trauma. (51ÁÔÆæ Photo/Elora Hennessey)
51ÁÔÆæ honors students stand to be recognized for their outstanding academic achievement. (51ÁÔÆæ Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Veterans stand to be recognized and honored at the beginning of the ceremony. (51ÁÔÆæ Photo/Elora Hennessey)
A doctoral student in the College of Letters & Science gets hooded by their academic advisor. (51ÁÔÆæ Photo/Elora Hennessey)
A student fist bumps Jason Puskar, interim dean of the Graduate School, after walking the stage to receive her degree and hood. (51ÁÔÆæ Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Peck School of the Arts Design & Visual Communication student Natalie Derr shows her degree after walking the stage. Natalie Derr was an artist in resident and now full time employee at Islands of Brilliance, a nonprofit organization that provides learning and social engagement opportunities for neurodiverse students. (51ÁÔÆæ Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Students Erick Rico-Sanchez and Maysam Abdeljaber are congratulated by Wilkistar Otieno, associate professor in the College of Engineering & Applied Science. (51ÁÔÆæ Photo/Elora Hennessey)
College of Nursing students cheer and celebrate after Chancellor Mark Mone recognized them during his address. (51ÁÔÆæ Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Chancellor Mark Mone bumps elbows with a student as he walks the stage. (51ÁÔÆæ Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Julia Estefania Arteaga poses for a photo after receiving her bachelor's degree in public health. (51ÁÔÆæ Photo/Elora Hennessey)
After three consecutive 51ÁÔÆæ commencements were held virtually, students and families attended a much anticipated in-person graduation ceremony Dec. 19 for Fall 2021 graduates.
Filled with joy and a sense of relief, graduates felt accomplishment after navigating education in a pandemic, and the commencement was even more special because it was able to be done in front of family and friends.
“It’s a wonderful point of pride for them to have accomplished this,” said Chancellor Mark Mone. “The reality is, it’s just the beginning.”
