commencement

Washington University has hosted luminaries who have inspired and challenged us. Alumni and faculty recall their memories of hearing three notable speakers on campus.

Alexandra Keane has spent her undergraduate and medical student career at Washington University. She received numerous academic honors, played point guard on the women’s basketball team and, to cap her student years, will give the graduate student address at Commencement on Friday, May 17.

The Commencement Office is seeking volunteers for the December Degree Candidate Recognition Ceremony. The ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Dec. 8 in the Athletic Complex Field House.

A variety of distinguished speakers, faculty members and student leaders will take part in Commencement-related events for Class of 2018 graduates and their families and guests next week at Washington University in St. Louis.

Washington University announced changes to parking in advance of the universitywide Commencement celebration May 18. The event is expected to bring more than 15,000 guests to the Danforth Campus.

“To quote the late Steve Jobs: ‘You can do it. Don’t be afraid.’ Today is your commencement marking your start to making the world better,” said Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton, to the Washington University in St. Louis Class of 2016. “Thank you for taking up this challenge!”

The text of the Commencement speech by graduate student Ashley Macrander, who earned a doctorate in education. 2016 marked the first time a graduate student gave a speech at the universitywide Commencement.

The text of the 2016 Commencement speech by senior class president Christine Lung.

This morning, more than 2,900 Washington University in St. Louis undergraduate, graduate and professional students will enter Brookings Quadrangle as degree candidates and leave as graduates after Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton confers their degrees.

Washington University in St. Louis will award five honorary degrees during the university’s 154th Commencement May 15. During the ceremony, which will begin at 8:30 a.m. in Brookings Quadrangle on the Danforth Campus, the university will bestow academic degrees on approximately 2,800 members of the Class of 2015.