Scenes from a week of graduations

Between April 25 and 28, Pitt awarded 741 doctoral degrees, 535 professional degrees, 2,573 master’s degrees and 2,160 undergraduate degrees. Ceremonies were held April 25 for graduate and doctoral student and April 28 for undergraduates, all at the Petersen Events Center.

The undergraduate class represented 325 distinct combinations of majors, and had students from 14 countries other than the U.S. ​​​​​​​Dereck Hogan, a Pitt alum and U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, gave the undergraduate commencement address.

Oluwatobi Ajimoko, an economics and Africana studies major, told her fellow graduates: "As we leave Pitt, remember that life is meant to be seen through a lens shaped by our search for new experiences and knowledge. … As we settle into our first year out of undergrad, I encourage everyone to ask questions, be interested, and be good to yourself and others. Congratulations and Hail to Pitt!"

Student speakers at the graduate ceremony expressed similar sentiments:

"As we leave our beloved Pitt, we mustn’t stop searching for issues, injustices, and imperfections within our society and our world because here we found the tools we needed to interrupt and adjust systemic, natural, and manmade problems. But for now, let’s get out there and be the change that we wished to see in the world," said Lashon Blackwell, who received a master's of education.

"Whether it is in our academic fields, in professional careers, or in our personal relationships and everyday interactions, I know that we will all turn to the next chapter of our lives with the ability — I believe, the responsibility — to be the  helpers to whom others look in times of uncertainty," said David Givens, who graduated from the Cooperative Doctoral Program in Religion.

  • Undergraduate students celebrate at commencement on April 28.
  • Chancellor Patrick Gallagher (right) congratulates graduates at the undergraduate ceremony.
  • Dereck Hogan (center), a Pitt alum and U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, was awarded an honorary degree at the undergraduate ceremony by (from left) Chancellor Gallagher, Board of Trustees Chairwoman Eva Tansky Blum, Provost Ann Cudd and Dr. Arthur Levine, senior vice chancellor for health sciences.
  • Oluwatobi Ajimoko, an economics and Africana studies major, spoke at the undergraduate commencement.
  • One student brought a service dog to the undergraduate ceremony.
  • Three proud graduates gather for a photo at the undergraduate ceremony.
  • Nearly 3,000 degrees were handed out at the graduate ceremony on April 25.
  • Pitt awarded 741 doctoral degrees, 535 professional degrees, 2,573 master’s degrees last week.
  • Lashon Blackwell, who received a master's of education, gave an address at the graduate ceremony,
  • Chancellor Patrick Gallagher addresses the graduate ceremony.
  • The commencement address at the graduate ceremony was given by Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.
  • Dean Kathryn Blee of the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences joined Chancellor Gallagher to award graduate degrees.