Moments from Commencement

Master’s Ceremony

‘You have reached a substantial goal’

The University of Rochester conferred master’s degrees to the graduating Class of 2021 in a ceremony on May 22. Held in Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theatre in downtown Rochester, the event was organized to respect social distancing guidelines and gathering limits brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The graduates were celebrated for persevering in the face of a global pandemic, for adapting to new situations, and for demonstrating patience and resilience in achieving their goals.

“You have reached a substantial goal in the face of the considerable adversity that this year of isolation and shutdowns has forced upon us all,” Edith Lord, professor emeritus of microbiology and immunology at the School of Medicine and Dentistry, told graduates in her commencement address. “I’m confident that your University of Rochester education has prepared you well to take on the challenges that you will face as you write the next chapters of your life’s story.”