Featured series 
Commencement 2024
A collection of stories covering Harvard University’s 373rd Commencement.
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Day to remember
One journey behind them, grads pause to reflect before starting the next
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Choose bravely, Ressa tells Harvard grads
Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist puts values first in Commencement address focused on threats to democracy
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‘Shed the tears … get up and fight some more’
Justice Sonia Sotomayor on importance of civic engagement, youth involvement, giving back
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‘Be that voice for compassion, learning, understanding, and unity’
Burns and others deliver call to action – and empathy – at Class Day ceremonies
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‘Seek inspiration in one another’
Garber praises graduates’ resilience, urges them to maintain and cherish lasting bonds
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Time to stand up, defend American higher education, Faust says
President emerita invokes spirit of Emerson, pushes back against recent criticisms
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Six receive honorary degrees
Harvard recognizes educator, conductor, theoretical physicist, advocate for elderly, writer, and Nobel laureate
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Bridging social distance, embracing uncertainty, fighting for equity
Student Commencement speeches to tap into themes faced by Class of 2024
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Ready to serve
New officers ‘join a long crimson line that goes back to the very founding of this country.’
Graduate Spotlight
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‘I haven’t really had a proper weekend in a long time’
Longtime supporter of grads Kathy Hanley caps 13-year quest with a Commencement of her own
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‘I was frustrated, infuriated, because women are just as capable’
Experiences in Uganda and U.S. fuel Ananda Birungi’s passion for empowering others, especially women and girls
Video
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When the circus called, she took the leap
Extension School allowed trapeze artist Izzy Patrowicz to pursue big-top dreams alongside bachelor’s degree
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Finding new ways to learn
Series of life-threatening medical problems changed Saif Kamal — but not his desire to pursue opportunity, help others do so too
Video
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‘You can solve anything’
Priyanka Pillai wants to take on big problems — and has learned how good design can help
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A change of mind, heart, and soul
Choosing Harvard took LyLena Estabine down an uncertain path. The former student co-president has no regrets.
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So how do you track spread of disease? By the numbers
Ivan Specht decided to employ his love of math during pandemic, which led to contact-tracing app, papers, future path
Video
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Pop star on one continent, college student on another
Model and musician Kazuma Mitchell managed to (mostly) avoid the spotlight while at Harvard
Video
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When your meet-cute happens at T.H. Chan
She worked for Pfizer in Turkey; he was neurosurgery resident in Canada. And graduation and wedding are not far off.
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No business like show business — except the law
Nicholas Gonzalez was a child star who felt curiously at home in front of a jury box
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Campus & Community
‘Shed the tears … get up and fight some more’
Justice Sonia Sotomayor on importance of civic engagement, youth involvement, giving back
-
Campus & Community
Day to remember
One journey behind them, grads pause to reflect before starting the next
-
Campus & Community
Choose bravely, Ressa tells Harvard grads
Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist puts values first in Commencement address focused on threats to democracy
-
Campus & Community
‘Be that voice for compassion, learning, understanding, and unity’
Burns and others deliver call to action – and empathy – at Class Day ceremonies
-
Campus & CommunitySix receive honorary degrees
Harvard recognizes educator, conductor, theoretical physicist, advocate for elderly, writer, and Nobel laureate
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Ready to serve
New officers ‘join a long crimson line that goes back to the very founding of this country.’
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Harvard awards 9,262 degrees
Totals reflect the 2023-24 academic year
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Time to stand up, defend American higher education, Faust says
President emerita invokes spirit of Emerson, pushes back against recent criticisms
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Maria Ressa will speak her troubled mind
‘Democracy dies quickly,’ warns Nobel laureate ahead of Commencement, where she hopes to find students committed to protecting it
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‘Seek inspiration in one another’
Garber praises graduates’ resilience, urges them to maintain and cherish lasting bonds
-
Bridging social distance, embracing uncertainty, fighting for equity
Student Commencement speeches to tap into themes faced by Class of 2024
-
‘I haven’t really had a proper weekend in a long time’
Longtime supporter of grads Kathy Hanley caps 13-year quest with a Commencement of her own
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Party like it’s 2020
Class of ’24 gets a do-over on high school prom that pandemic took away
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‘I was frustrated, infuriated, because women are just as capable’
Experiences in Uganda and U.S. fuel Ananda Birungi’s passion for empowering others, especially women and girls
-
When the circus called, she took the leap
Extension School allowed trapeze artist Izzy Patrowicz to pursue big-top dreams alongside bachelor’s degree
-
Finding new ways to learn
Series of life-threatening medical problems changed Saif Kamal — but not his desire to pursue opportunity, help others do so too
-
‘You can solve anything’
Priyanka Pillai wants to take on big problems — and has learned how good design can help
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Tracing largely forgotten history of major community
Julia Tellides explored shifts, upheavals of Thessaloniki between two wars
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A change of mind, heart, and soul
Choosing Harvard took LyLena Estabine down an uncertain path. The former student co-president has no regrets.
-
So how do you track spread of disease? By the numbers
Ivan Specht decided to employ his love of math during pandemic, which led to contact-tracing app, papers, future path
-
Pop star on one continent, college student on another
Model and musician Kazuma Mitchell managed to (mostly) avoid the spotlight while at Harvard
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When your meet-cute happens at T.H. Chan
She worked for Pfizer in Turkey; he was neurosurgery resident in Canada. And graduation and wedding are not far off.
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No business like show business — except the law
Nicholas Gonzalez was a child star who felt curiously at home in front of a jury box
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Bringing personal perspective to homeless care
Soon-to-be Med School grad’s family struggled in U.S. after fleeing war-torn Central America. He hasn’t forgotten.
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Three will receive 2024 Harvard Medal
In recognition of their extraordinary service
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When math is the dream
Dora Woodruff was drawn to beauty of numbers as child. Next up: Ph.D. at MIT.
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A fresh take on must-see TV
Isabella Madrigal has a vision: storytelling that’s compelling, inspires better, more equitable world
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When your soulmate’s a classmate
Husband and wife — both pursuing master’s degrees at Harvard — merge love for education to help students in India
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Sonia Sotomayor to receive 2024 Radcliffe Medal
Associate justice of U.S. Supreme Court honored for her work as a fearless and compassionate jurist
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Maria Ressa named 2024 Commencement speaker
Nobel Prize-winning defender of press freedom will deliver principal address
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Class of 1999 elects Baratunde Thurston as chief marshal of alumni
Writer, TV host, comedian, commentator to join in 125-year-old tradition
