After years of hard work researching and writing their thesis and defending their dissertations, this celebration could not come soon enough. Some in the crowd had even waited over a year as a pandemic had delayed their moment on the stage. They most assuredly were hot under their regalia, but the discomfort couldn't dampen the joy.
On May 13, UNLV kicked off a weekend of commencement celebrations for our 2020 and 2021 graduates. To follow the social distancing protocols in place, the events were split into four events, with the Graduate College honorees up first. Here are some of our favorite moments from the morning. Photos by Josh Hawkins and Jeff Scheid.
[Visit the Commencement website for details on the May 14 & 15 undergraduate ceremonies]
The Inspirational Caps
![Grad caps decorated with illustrative messages](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/Caps.jpg?itok=dBz-2nV8)
![Grad cap decorated with illustrative message](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/Caps_7N3A4143.jpeg?itok=PcuN-0rZ)
![Grad caps decorated with illustrative messages](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/caps_JJH13209_0.jpeg?itok=CnbMCRq6)
![Grad caps decorated with illustrative messages](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/caps-JJH13180.jpg?itok=r-fF7bEF)
The Fist Bumps & Waves
![two grad students giving a fistbump](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/Bumps-JOSH7624.jpg?itok=Sw8aPCS4)
![Members fist-bumping newly graduates](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/Procession_Bump_7N3A4683.jpeg?itok=OK2TzbNW)
![graduates waving](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/Wave_Crowd_JOSH6262.jpeg?itok=KXzJO9DN)
![graduate waving on stage](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/CrossingStage_JOSH7355.jpeg?itok=j_1ic3PX)
![graduates with masks waving](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/Wave_7N3A4604.jpeg?itok=SdxGifyh)
![family taking pictures of graduates](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/Family_7N3A4695.jpeg?itok=gLqmzXyH)
The Touches of Personal Style
![graduate wearing regalia and a mask](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/EducationMask_7N3A4387.jpeg?itok=HNdLgttV)
![graduate wearing regalia with colorful shoes](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/shoes_collage.jpg?itok=Bi4ASZaR)
![male graduate with regalia wearing mask](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/style_7N3A4621.jpeg?itok=Vbvb97xv)
![shot of a grad shawl saying Black Girl Magic](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/BlackGirlMagic_7N3A4419.jpeg?itok=1oQ7lSaR)
The Heat!
![graduate speaking in front of camera](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/Fan_7N3A4633.jpeg?itok=7iXMeZ63)
![graduate with an umbrella](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/umbrella_7N3A4678.jpeg?itok=eH6WLpTL)
![graduate member passing out water](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/water-JOSH7415.jpg?itok=HHvMdIv8)
Although this grad seemed pretty chill …
![graduate seated wearing regalia](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/Cool_Seated-JJH13605.jpg?itok=LR95gAwj)
And Best of All — The Joy!
![two graduates laughing](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/Families-JOSH8606.jpg?itok=jU3Thivn)
![graduate dancing](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/Dancing-JOSH7873.jpg?itok=Lm-Q-UW_)
![smiling graduate on podium](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/Speaker_JOSH6796.jpeg?itok=JAh2EiuV)
![large group of graduates celebrating](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/Group-JOSH8021.jpeg?itok=Nbm_KUrp)
![sam boyd stadium display with graduates](/sites/default/files/styles/360_width/public/ckeditor_files/news_2021_06/news_2020_Commencement/handsup_4A2A5286.jpeg?itok=PM2DchT8)