Commencement & Reunion Weekend 2017

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Commencement and Reunion News

Student celebrating during Commencement
Brown marks Commencement with urgency to make a positive impact
Thumbnail of Six Honorary Degree recipients
Brown awards six honorary doctorates
Daveed Diggs
With advice from Daveed Diggs, Class of 2017 celebrates the Baccalaureate
Brown Commissioning Ceremony
Ceremony recognizes graduating veterans, honors new captain, celebrates ROTC rebirth
Brown University Commencement Ceremony
Reunion Weekend in Review
Michael Zaskey, a RUE student
The road to College Hill less traveled
Adriel Barrios-Anderson and Viet Nguyen
Senior orators explore themes of silence, deserving in Commencement addresses
Anuoluwapo Osideko, left, and Alexandria Volkening
Graduate speakers at Commencement reflect on opportunities, responsibilities

Text of Speeches and Remarks

▸President Christina Paxson: 'Live Courageously'
▸Student Orator Adriel Barrios-Anderson: 'Silent Lessons'
▸Student Orator Viet Nguyen: 'The Idea of Deserving'
  • Near Wayland Arch, current Brown students helped alumni returning for Reunion Weekend get settled in.
  • The chance to return to Brown's residence halls is just one Reunion highlight for graduates from across the decades, including these alumni who checked in on Wriston Quad.
  • During a Saturday ceremony in Patriots Court, Brown alumnus Seth Toomay and his son, Gavin, placed flowers in memory of Brown alumni killed in the 9/11 attacks.
  • Gavin Toomay's middle name is Raymond, in honor of his father's friend Raymond Rocha, who lost his life on 9/11.
  • Bethany Dubois brought Emily Horing and Jeffrey Salvadore front and center as the ARRR! a cappella group held a concert honoring their graduating crewmates.
  • Members of ARRR!, Brown's only pirate a capella group, performed for a crowd near Faunce Arch.
  • With Friday's rainy skies clearing just in time, guests began to arrive and take photos on the College Green for Campus Dance.
  • A horn player from the band Lawrence casts a shadow onto the tent wall of the Campus Dance stage on Simmons Quad.
  • Moments before the annual Senior Sing tradition happened at midnight during Campus Dance, members of the Class of 2017 posed for pictures on the steps of Sayles Hall.
  • The view from above — Simmons Quad was packed with activity during Campus Dance.
  • Undergraduate Kevin Cowles and other members of the Brown Derbies performed for a crowd gathered under Faunce Arch during Campus Dance.
  • Brown alumnus Greg Roth helps his son, Leo, find a better vantage point to take in the sights and sounds of Campus Dance.
  • Campus Dance revelers convened under Faunce Arch near the end of the celebration to hear the Brown Derbies a cappella group sing.
  • Senior Sing on the steps of Sayles brought together alumni returning for Reunion Weekend with Class of 2017 graduates and other members of the Brown community.
  • Karen Gutierrez, a neuroscience concentrator from Los Angeles, lined up under Faunce Arch before processing to the Baccalaureate Ceremony with her fellow Class of 2017 graduates.
  • Brown Class of 2004 alumnus Daveed Diggs is a writer, performer and rapper known for his dual role in the Broadway hit "Hamilton" as well as his work in film, music and television.
  • Graduating seniors made their way to the First Baptist Church in America for the 2017 Baccalaureate service.
  • Greeted by music from the Drums of Mali, students entered the church for the Baccalaureate service.
  • Although they would officially graduate the following day, seniors wore their caps and gowns — with all their personalized decorations — to the Baccalaureate service on Saturday.
  • Jordan Ferguson gestured for the camera as he and his fellow Class of 2017 graduates processed to the First Baptist Church for the Baccalaureate
  • Charlie Scott, who gave a blessing from the traditions of indigenous peoples during the 2017 Baccalaureate service, headed into the First Baptist Church.
  • More than 1,500 graduating seniors filed into the First Baptist Church for the Baccalaureate, a celebration of thanksgiving and solemn reflection
  • Students cheer for Daveed Diggs, who said the persona "Daveed Diggs" was born in 2015 when he began starring in "Hamilton." The real Daveed Diggs, he said, does not always feel like a success.
  • Students displayed the Class of 2017 banner at the speaking podium during the Baccalaureate Ceremony.
  • Diggs’ speech was by turns hilarious and grave as he spoke both from notes and off-the-cuff, delivering elements of his address in rap and demonstrating the literary and performance skills for which he is widely acclaimed.
  • Jessica Kenny, Monica Trevino and Ben Shanahan shared a laugh during Diggs' speech, which included personal stories, performance and a plea for graduates to work every day to help create fellowship in America.
  • It's a hit! Alumni and families gathered on Brown's baseball field for some Field Day action.
  • Alumni Field Day offers Brown graduates from across the years to join with family and friends in everything from sports to musical performances.
  • At a Commencement forum on Saturday, jazz musician and Brown physics professor Stephon Alexander discussed the interplay between music and physics.
  • A forum with Norm Eisen, former special counsel for ethics and government reform to President Obama, explored current threats to ethics, transparency and the rule of law in U.S.
  • Brown graduate Joshua Schiffman, a physician and professor at the University of Utah, discussed what the genomes of elephants can teach us about cancer in humans.
  • Family, friends and members of the community gathered to honor graduating veterans and a new Army officer.
  • Aranda, now a captain, received his M.D. from the Warren Alpert Medical School and will go on to be an Army surgeon at the Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Georgia.
  • Marcos Aranda received his commissioning as a captain in the U.S. Army at the Graduating Veterans and Commissioning Ceremony held on Saturday.
  • After receiving his commissioning, Aranda proposed to his girlfriend, Uzoamaka Okoro, a Brown alumna who was commissioned as a second lieutenant during last year's ceremony.
  • Christopher Baker, a U.S. Navy veteran and longtime leader in the Brown student veteran community, earned a Ph.D. in biotechnology.
  • Surprise guest Oprah Winfrey attended the sociology department's diploma ceremony to honor graduating student Nomvula Mbambo, an alumna of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.
  • Drs. Kunal Sindhu, Marcos Aranda and Dorothy Liu spoke as a trio to their fellow M.D. graduates at the Warren Alpert Medical School ceremony on Sunday.
  • The Brown Band accompanied the procession of alumni and graduating students throughout the morning
  • Students gathered on Waterman Street starting at 9 a.m. for the procession
  • Banner-carrying marshals Marques Love, Lehidy Frias, Viet Nguyen and Julia Schoenewald led the undergraduate Class of 2017's procession down College Street.
  • Morayo Akande, who earned a master of public health degree, smiled after passing through the Van Wickle Gates.
  • Graduate students, who earned 633 master's degrees and 331 doctoral and M.D. degrees, processed through the Van Wickle Gates.
  • With "ears" up and camera scanning, Class of 1987 graduate Rick Perera headed down College Hill amid the alumni procession.
  • Members of the Class of 1942 returned to campus to celebrate their 75th reunion.
  • Donning a sash and medal, Nico Sedivy (center), who earned a bachelor of arts degree, processed down College Street.
  • Brown's celebrated Van Wickle Gates open only to admit new students and to celebrate new Brown graduates for the Commencement procession each May.
  • Dillon O'Carroll, Class of 2015, cheered on his former Brown football teammates as they march down College Hill.
  • President Paxson waved to alumni as she marched down Benefit Street.
  • Graduating senior Fabiola Porras, who earned a bachelor of science degree, celebrates a degree hard earned.
  • Classmates celebrating their fifth reunion processed through the Van Wickle Gates and down College Street on Sunday morning.
  • Graduates Katherine Hsu and Paul Martino made their way down College Street with energy, enthusiasm and excitement.
  • Will Truong high-fived an alumna during the procession, a treasured Brown tradition where students and alumni celebrate one another.
  • Class of 2017 graduates cheered on alumni as they processed down Benefit Street.
  • Class of 2017 graduates sat on the lawn of the First Baptist Church of America — which has hosted Brown Commencements since 1776 — for the College Ceremony.
  • A Harry Potter-themed mortarboard stood out within the crowd of seniors seated at the College Ceremony.
  • In remarks at the College Ceremony, President Paxson urged graduates to bridge the deep divides that were laid bare in the 2016 election.
  • At the College Ceremony at the First Baptist Church of America, President Christina Paxson told graduating seniors to "live courageously."
  • Marisa Vang (right) let out a cheer after President Paxson formally conferred degrees upon her, Nancy Truong, Cynthia Hale-Phillips and the rest of the graduating class at the College Ceremony.
  • Graduates on the College Green awaited the start of the University Ceremony, which preceded departmental diploma ceremonies held across campus in the hours following
  • Student orator Viet Nguyen, who also served as the president of the Undergraduate Student Council, encouraged his fellow graduates to use their Brown degrees to ensure that others have the equal opportunities.
  • Three of the University's six honorary degree recipients, Donald Hood, Daveed Diggs and Robert De Niro, shared a moment on the stage.
  • Noemi Chavez Velazquez laughed with a fellow graduate during the University Ceremony.
  • Likening the current political climate to a "tragic, dumbass comedy," honorary degree recipient Robert De Niro exhorted graduates to "work for the change."
  • The Van Wickle Gates remained open through Monday evening for photos by graduates and their guests.

Reunion Weekend Photo Galleries

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Browse Facebook Albums from Reunion Weekend 2017...
Social Media Posts from Commencement & Reunion
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