Celebrating Stanford's Commencement Weekend 2021 in photos | Stanford Report

Skip to content

Despite the challenges that pandemic precautions brought to this year’s Commencement, traditional words of advice and congratulations still made for a celebratory occasion.

Joined by friends and family, the campus community gathered to honor and celebrate 2021 graduates at Stanford’s 130th Commencement weekend June 12-13, 2021. The first of two alumni speakers, surgeon, author and public health expert Atul Gawande gave the address to advanced degree graduates on Saturday. Actress, writer and producer Issa Rae gave the address for the Senior Class of ’21 on Sunday.

Photographer Andrew Brodhead captured some of the festivities.

Ebony Webber, graduating with an MS in laboratory animal science, waits for Saturday’s ceremony to start.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Kari Barclay, newly minted PhD in theater and performance studies, stops for a quick portrait.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Emmanuel Anifowose, MS graduate in mechanical engineering, poses with Busayo Omoleye and Titilola Anifowose for a celebratory family portrait.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Families gathered in front of Stanford Stadium to take graduation photos.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

President Marc Tessier-Lavigne dons his academic robe with a little help from Marty Higgins before the Commencement ceremony on Saturday.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Stanford’s academic deans talk among themselves while waiting for the procession to begin on Saturday.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

President Marc Tessier-Lavigne and Commencement speaker Atul Gawande chat before Saturday’s ceremony.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Graduates eagerly wait to enter the stadium on Saturday.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Families practice social distancing in the stadium during Saturday’s Commencement ceremony.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Advanced degree graduates enter the stadium for Saturday’s Commencement ceremony.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Family and friends join in the celebration of graduates from the stands of the stadium.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Advanced degree recipients line up for the procession into Stanford Stadium.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

President Marc Tessier-Lavigne and Provost Persis Drell entering the stadium during Saturday’s Commencement.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

President Marc Tessier-Lavigne speaking at the Commencement ceremony for advanced degree candidates.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Atul Gawande delivered the Commencement address to advanced degree candidates on Saturday.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

The socially distanced ceremony for advanced degree candidates was held in Stanford Stadium under sunny skies.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Graduates applaud final remarks at Saturday’s ceremony.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

New graduates celebrate with a hug.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Commencement speaker Issa Rae, Class of 2007, speaks with soon to be fellow alums before Sunday’s ceremony for the Senior Class.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Undergraduates get ready for the traditional Wacky Walk entry into the stadium for Commencement.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Undergraduates process into the stadium on Sunday.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

The Stanford Tree, the mascot of the Incomparable Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band, joined the festivities.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Undergraduates funnel in for the Wacky Walk.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Kintashe Mainsah, Caitlin Klauer, Sophia Susac, Abby Audet, Stephanie Houck and Sommer DeRudder are ready for the Wacky Walk.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Chinmay Patel, graduating with coterminal BS and MS degrees in computer science, holds a sign designed after the university’s Health Check app.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

The energy was high in Stanford Stadium among members of the Senior Class.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

President Marc Tessier-Lavigne gives his welcoming address on Sunday.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Writer, actor, producer and alumna Issa Rae delivers the Commencement address to graduating seniors on Sunday.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Provost Persis Drell announces winners of the Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Award for Distinctive Contributions to Undergraduate Education: Constanza Hasselmann, Chloe Stoddard, Jennifer Rolen and Lisa Hwang.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

After a countdown, graduating seniors launched their mortar boards into the sky in celebration.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Adonis Rubio, graduating with a BS in biology, poses for family photos after the ceremony.
Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Image credit: Andrew Brodhead

Fullscreen