Arizona State University's graduation festivities returned today in person for the first time since fall 2019. Celebrating fall graduates from the Class of 2021 — as well as any graduates from 2020 or spring 2021 who wished to participate in the ceremonies — got to meet with friends and family to commemorate the milestone, and we were there to catch some of the action.
Take a look at the fall 2021 graduate and undergraduate ceremonies.
Graduate Commencement
Special-interest and individual school convocations are taking place from Dec. 11–16, but Monday was the big day for commencement, with the graduate ceremony kicking off at 9 a.m. at Desert Financial Arena on the Tempe campus. The undergraduate event took place in the afternoon. After three graduation seasons away, graduate students were again celebrated by the traditional balloon drop at the arena.
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Elizabeth Rivera (left) and Jasmin Yescas, both graduating with a master's degree in special education, take a selfie during Graduate Commencement.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Master's degree students, including Emily Canacakos (left), accept their ceremonial hoods at Graduate Commencement. Canacakos earned her degree in applied behavioral analysis.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Balloons fall at the conclusion of Graduate Commencement at Desert Financial Arena on Dec. 13.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Social work graduate Militza Monge hugs her mom after Graduate Commencement on Dec. 13.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Fabio Samudio Jr. takes a selfie with family members (from left) Yazmin De Samudio, Fabio Samudio Sr. and Monica Samudio before Graduate Commencement at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Dec. 13. Fabio Samudio Jr. is graduating with an Master of Arts in civil engineering.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Computer science graduate Saraswathy Hariharakrishnan, from India, adjusts her cap before entering Graduate Commencement. Around 3,000 students were recognized for their master's and doctoral accomplishments at the live ceremony after having virtual ceremonies the previous three graduations due to the pandemic.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Graduates (from left) Lorena Quinones (counseling), Holley Newton (emergency management and homeland security) and Ursula Thomas (social work) snap a selfie before attending Graduate Commencement.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Graduate Alisa Murphy claps during Graduate Commencement at Desert Financial Arena on Dec. 13. Murphy is graduating with an MA in journalism and mass communication.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Manufacturing engineering graduate Jordan Yaple listens to speakers during the Graduate Commencement ceremony.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Doctor of behavioral health graduate Toni Cole beams as she shows off her diploma cover at Graduate Commencement.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Behavioral health doctoral graduate Albin John is hooded by Professor Matt Martin during Graduate Commencement.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Clinical Assistant Professor Matt Martin congratulates Rosalee Brown at Graduate Commencement. Brown earned her degree in behavioral health.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Elizabeth Rivera (left) and Jasmin Yescas, both graduating with a master's degree in special education, take a selfie during Graduate Commencement.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Master's degree students, including Emily Canacakos (left), accept their ceremonial hoods at Graduate Commencement. Canacakos earned her degree in applied behavioral analysis.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Balloons fall at the conclusion of Graduate Commencement at Desert Financial Arena on Dec. 13.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Social work graduate Militza Monge hugs her mom after Graduate Commencement on Dec. 13.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Fabio Samudio Jr. takes a selfie with family members (from left) Yazmin De Samudio, Fabio Samudio Sr. and Monica Samudio before Graduate Commencement at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Dec. 13. Fabio Samudio Jr. is graduating with an Master of Arts in civil engineering.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Computer science graduate Saraswathy Hariharakrishnan, from India, adjusts her cap before entering Graduate Commencement. Around 3,000 students were recognized for their master's and doctoral accomplishments at the live ceremony after having virtual ceremonies the previous three graduations due to the pandemic.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Graduates (from left) Lorena Quinones (counseling), Holley Newton (emergency management and homeland security) and Ursula Thomas (social work) snap a selfie before attending Graduate Commencement.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Graduate Alisa Murphy claps during Graduate Commencement at Desert Financial Arena on Dec. 13. Murphy is graduating with an MA in journalism and mass communication.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
Undergraduate Commencement
For the first time, the fall edition of Undergraduate Commencement took place at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. Fall commencement is usually smaller than spring's and is held at the basketball arena, but this time — with additions of 2020 and spring 2020 graduates expected to swell the ranks — the ceremony was moved to the roomier football stadium.
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Streamers rain down on the new Sun Devil alums at the end of Undergraduate Commencement.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Mayra Hernandez, a political science major, takes pictures of her family after Undergraduate Commencement.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Psychology graduate Lindsay True hugs her mom after Undergraduate Commencement.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Janet Duarte Nevarez, an aerospace engineering major, gets a hug from her mother, Mireya Nevarez, to celebrate her accomplishments after Undergraduate Commencement.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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From left: Olivia Gregg (business communication major), Sophia Thurow (clinical exercise science major), Anna Morris (business management major) and Jenna Hillman (journalism and mass communication major) take a selfie before Undergraduate Commencement at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe on Dec. 13.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Nursing graduate Brianna Unagaro holds up pitchforks before Undergraduate Commencement.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Deans from the individual ASU schools and colleges walk into the stadium in a procession during Undergraduate Commencement.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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A Golden Grad alumna (one of those celebrating their 50th anniversary since graduating) flashes the ASU pitchfork sign with her hands while walking into Sun Devil Stadium on Monday afternoon.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Music theater and performance graduate Julian Mendoza sings the national anthem during Undergraduate Commencement at Sun Devil Stadium.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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The crowd watches ASU President Michael Crow speak on the overhead screen during Undergraduate Commencement. The in-person ceremony — the first since fall 2019 — was also the first fall commencement held in the football stadium.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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President Michael Crow speaks at Undergraduate Commencement on Monday afternoon at Sun Devil Stadium.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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A graduation cap is decorated with a quote from the Broadway show "Hamilton" for Undergraduate Commencement.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Jay Griffin, a film production major, shows his school spirit at Undergraduate Commencement.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Angie Valencia, a music education major, and others show appreciation to their families at Undergraduate Commencement.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Moeur Award recipients (from left) Kaitlyn Vance (business law and finance), Andrada Iancu (biomedical science), Emily Walker (elementary education) and Maria Ananickal (computer science) flip their tassels to show they are now graduates at Undergraduate Commencement.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Some of ASU's newest alumni pose for a photo after Undergraduate Commencement at Sun Devil Stadium.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Streamers rain down on the new Sun Devil alums at the end of Undergraduate Commencement.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Mayra Hernandez, a political science major, takes pictures of her family after Undergraduate Commencement.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Psychology graduate Lindsay True hugs her mom after Undergraduate Commencement.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Janet Duarte Nevarez, an aerospace engineering major, gets a hug from her mother, Mireya Nevarez, to celebrate her accomplishments after Undergraduate Commencement.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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From left: Olivia Gregg (business communication major), Sophia Thurow (clinical exercise science major), Anna Morris (business management major) and Jenna Hillman (journalism and mass communication major) take a selfie before Undergraduate Commencement at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe on Dec. 13.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Nursing graduate Brianna Unagaro holds up pitchforks before Undergraduate Commencement.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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Deans from the individual ASU schools and colleges walk into the stadium in a procession during Undergraduate Commencement.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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A Golden Grad alumna (one of those celebrating their 50th anniversary since graduating) flashes the ASU pitchfork sign with her hands while walking into Sun Devil Stadium on Monday afternoon.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
Top photo: Eman Muhtaseb (right), a special education and applied behavioral analysis master's degree student, gets a congratulatory hug from her sister, Razan Muhtaseb, outside Desert Financial Arena following Graduate Commencement on Dec. 13. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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