28 Photos From Columbia Commencement Week That Show How Happy We Are to Return to Campus to Celebrate Our Grads
For the past week, Columbians have turned out to celebrate the Classes of 2022, 2021, and 2020 in style.
The past week has been a blur of celebration on Columbia's campuses, as we've finally been able to welcome our graduates home for school graduation ceremonies, University Commencement, a special celebration for the Classes of 2020 and 2021, and many more related activities. Our photographers have been there to capture it all.
This year, everyone at Columbia has been excited for the return to an in-person celebration for our graduates. Whether in Bangladesh, or Boulder, or right on Broadway, we love seeing our grads celebrate their accomplishments all across the world.
The Class of 2022 includes more than 14,400 students from Columbia’s 21 schools and affiliates. They come from over 138 countries, include 181 military veterans, 8 displaced scholars, and 76 staff members.
This year is also the first time that Columbia Climate School will grant degrees. More than 80 students celebrated during the school’s inaugural Class Day on May 13.
Be sure to follow Columbia’s social media channels to let us know how you’ve been celebrating and use the hashtag #RoarLions2022, #RoarLions2021, and #RoarLions2020 to spread the word about our brilliant graduates.
You can imagine how difficult it is to choose just a few photos to mark such a momentous week, so we encourage you to follow Columbia's Instagram to see even more snapshots of the fun.
Roar, Lion, Roar!
Columbia University Commencement – May 18, 2022
The university breaks out the mace for ceremonial occasions, like graduation, where the mace symbolizes the university president’s ability to confer degrees. A little more backstory: the mace is made of Sheffield plate and was donated to Columbia in 1933 by John Munro Woolsey (LAW’1901, HON’29), a federal judge who that same year was best known for his ruling that James Joyce’s Ulysses was not obscene. He was also a founding member of the Columbia Law Review. You can learn more about the mace here.
You can learn more about all of Columbia's 2022 honorary degree recipients here. And learn more about how honorary degree recipients are chosen in this video.
In addition to honorary degrees, the Commencement ceremony also included the conferral of Presidential Awards for Outstanding Teaching, Faculty Mentoring Awards, Faculty Service Awards, and recognition of Columbia Alumni Medalists. Congratulations to all!
President Bollinger discussed free speech, knowledge, expertise, and humility, as well as the role of universities as a force for good in society. You can read more about his speech here or watch the full video clip.
You can read more about the University Commencement ceremony in the official program here. And you can watch the full ceremony here.
Celebration for the Classes of 2020 & 2021 – May 19, 2022
You can view the entire celebration for the Classes of 2020 and 2021 here to see President Bollinger and Provost Mary Boyce's remarks. And you can learn more about the Nicholas Murray Butler Medals awarded to the President’s Advisory Task Force on COVID-19 here.
Photos from Graduation Ceremonies Throughout the Week
There are dozens of photos from specific school ceremonies that have been and will be posted in the coming week on Columbia's Instagram. Check them out!
The Baccalaureate Service is an interfaith, intercultural service celebrating each undergraduate's academic career. You can watch the full ceremony and learn more about the service here.
The Columbia Climate School marked its first Class Day since the school's establishment in 2021. You can read more about the ceremony here and view photos and videos here.
This is one of our most-recommended grad photo spots! Love the thinking pose.