Commencement
Congratulations to the Guilford College Classes of 2020 and 2021! Please enjoy the following images, which showcase the joy at all of the College's recent graduation events.
For information about Commencement for July 2019 through May 2021, please read this information published by the Office of the Registrar.
Graduates share flames from their candles with their professors, advisers, and families at Toast to the Light 2021.
Director of the Friends Center Wess Daniels brings the silence at Toast to the Light 2021.
Family members celebrate with their graduate at Toast to the Light 2021.
Political Science Professor Maria Rosales addresses graduates and families at Toast to the Light 2021.
Students take selfies at Toast to the Light 2021.
Sparkling cider is poured for the Toast to the Light 2021.
Students light candles at Toast to the Light 2021.
Families enjoyed the nice spring evening at Toast to the Light 2021.
Friends from the classes of 2020 and 2021 Toast to the Light.
Graduates from 2020 and 2021 attend the Sankofa celebration on May 6, 2021.
Students put on their pins at the Sankofa celebration on May 6, 2021.
Staff speakers stand before the crowd at the Sankofa celebration on May 6, 2021.
Students share their experiences with the crowd at the Sankofa celebration on May 6, 2021.
A student speaks at the Sankofa celebration in 2021.
BAGC provides bags of snacks at the Sankofa 2021 celebration.
The Sankofa celebration takes place on May 6, 2021, at Hege Library.
Graduates put on their pins at their Sankofa celebration on May 6, 2021.
A speaker stands at the podium at the Sankofa celebration on May 6, 2021.
Mortarboards from Commencement 2020, 2021 [GALLERY]
Mortarboards from Commencement 2020, 2021 [GALLERY]
A student's mortarboard is decorated with beakers and cylinders and says, "Now I'm like this cylinder, graduated."
A student's mortarboard is covered with blue flowers.
A student's mortarboard is decorated with the phrase, "Success rains from my melanin."
A student's mortarboard is decorated with Thanos' hand holding a diploma saying, "What did it cost?"
A student's mortarboard says in Spanish, "My dreams have no limits."
A student's mortarboard is decorated with carnations, butterflies, and a personal saying.
A student's mortarboard is covered with cutouts of daisies.
A student's mortarboard is covered with plastic, googly eyes and says, "Looking towards the future."
A student's mortarboard is painted with a flower glued on and includes a fist and says, "By Any Means Necessary."
A student's mortarboard is decorated with flowers and photos of dogs and reads, "Because Dog Mom isn't a career."
A student's mortarboard is decorated with graphics of Piglet and Winnie the Pooh and reads, "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
A student's mortarboard is decorated with a large snake surrounded by roses.
A student's mortarboard reads, "By Any Means Necessary," and includes the Mexican flag.
A student's mortarboard is painted purple and includes a hand and the word, "Period."
A student's mortarboard is decorated with whimsical music notes.
A student's mortarboard is decorated with flowers and says, "My turn to teach."
A student's mortarboard is decorated with flowers and says, "They tried to bury us. They didn't know we were seeds. Gracias, Mama y Papa."
A student's mortarboard is covered with notebook cutouts of doodles and class notes.
A student's mortarboard is decorated with flowers and says, "Shine in the Darkness."
A student's mortarboard is decorated with a man posing and says, "With BB all things are possible."
A student's mortarboard is decorated with a red apple signed by all of her students.
A student's mortarboard says, "What gives Light must endure burning."
A student's mortarboard is decorated with large gold letters that say, "The Power of a Dream."
A student's mortarboard reads, "Veni, Vidi, Vici, Y'all"
A student's mortarboard reads, "Exiting Stage Right With a Degree."
A student's mortarboard is decorated with gold polka dots and reads, "Ms. Allen."
A student's mortarboard features Frida Kahlo and a quote saying, "At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think."
A student's mortarboard is decorated with an anime cutout and reads, "Forgive me Guilford, but this is the end!"
A student's mortarboard is painted pink and says, "With God all things are possible!"
A student's mortarboard is decorated with two people and says, "I burned for this degree."
A student's mortarboard is decorated with the phrase, "End of act 1; My turn to teach."
A student's mortarboard is decorated with software code and the phrase, "Hello world."
Interim President Jim Hood '79 gives kudos to a graduate's family at Commencement 2021.
A hooding ceremony takes place for a graduate with a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice.
Graduates pose for photos on stage in Dana Auditorium.
Students and faculty wait backstage as graduates stand in line waiting for their names to be called.
A family takes a photo at Commencement 2021.
A student holds their diploma on the steps in front of Dana Auditorium.
A student hugs a friend after Commencement 2021.
Commencement check-in was a time for checking stoles, cords, and ribbons.
Student and faculty jazz ensembles provide music at Commencement 2021.
A student gives out hugs at Commencement 2021.
President Jim Hood '79 waits for graduates to walk across the stage in Dana Auditorium.
A staff member takes a group selfie with students and graduates at Commencement 2021.
Staff and faculty images on a screen represent folks who would ordinarily be present for Commencement if not for capacity limits due to COVID restrictions.
Staff member Stephanie Davis helps families get that perfect shot in front of a backdrop at Commencement 2021.
A friend gives a graduate a few final touches before taking the stage for Commencement 2021.
Friends sit on a blanket on the Quad with a puppy in the middle of them.
A student sits down to look at their diploma on the steps of Dana Auditorium.
A graduates holds their diploma on the walkway through the center of the Quad.
Graduates and families enjoyed a beautiful day on the Quad.
A family takes a photo with a 2021 graduate after Commencement.
A 2021 graduates holds their diploma outside Dana Auditorium.
A 2021 graduates gives out hugs after Commencement.
A family and a graduate takes a photo with President Jim Hood '79.
A student receives their diploma on stage in Dana Auditorium.
A family takes a photo with a 2021 graduate after Commencement.
A student embraces a family member after Commencement.
A proud 2021 graduates holds their diploma in front of Dana Auditorium.
A proud 2021 graduates holds his diploma in front of Dana Auditorium.
A student receives their diplomas on stage in Dana Auditorium.
A graduate stands on the stage in Dana Auditorium.
President Jim Hood '79 hands a diploma to a graduate on stage.
A proud family takes a photo with its graduate.
A group of students pose to take a photo together at Commencement.
Graduates celebrate together at Commencement.
A proud family takes a photo with their graduate on the Quad.
A family and its graduate take a photo together on the Quad.
A friend takes a photo of their graduating senior outdoors.
A friend takes a photo of their graduating senior outdoors.
This photo taken from backstage in Dana Auditorium shows the Commencement ceremony in progress.
A graduate takes a photo with family members.
A family takes a photo together at Commencement.
A family takes a portrait outside Dana Auditorium.
A member of the Class of 2021 takes a photo with friends.
A graduate takes a photo with a friend while holding their new diploma.
Two 2021 graduates smile as they take a photo together.
Graduating brothers check in for Commencement 2020.
Interim President Jim Hood '79 greets a graduate from the Class of 2020.
Friday was a beautiful day for grads and their families. In this photo, a student takes a photo with friends in front of the Guilford College backdrop.
Daniel Bratcher '20 takes a photo in front of the Guilford College backdrop.
In this behind the scenes peek, graduates exit Dana Auditorium to re-join their families.
The family viewing area, stage left, was filled with family members taking photos.
A student and their nephew take a photo with a diploma after Commencement 2020.
Mother-daughter graduates from the class of 2020 take a photo together on Mother's Day weekend.
Many graduates posed with their families in front of the Guilford backdrop.
A graduate celebrates with a friend in front of the Guilford College step-and-repeat.
Provost Rob Whitnell reads names as graduates walk across the stage at Commencement 2020.
A student celebrates outside after Commence 2020.
Relatives line the sidewalk in front of Dana Auditorium at Commencement 2020.
Graduates take photos in front of the large trees on campus after Commencement 2020.
There was a mini student-staff reunion in front of Dana Auditorium as a graduate takes a photo with a staff member.
Due to COVID restrictions, individual family celebrations, in sequence, continued for about three hours. In this photo, family members take photos in Dana Auditorium.
A friend embraces a graduate outside after Commencement 2020.
Dana Auditorium serves as the perfect collegiate backdrop for this student to take a photo after Commencement 2020.
Three graduates stand together outside Dana Auditorium.
The Guilford College Jazz Ensemble warms up on the Quad.
Friends and family prep a graduate for the walk to the auditorium.
Faculty and staff stand on stage in Dana Auditorium.
A graduate takes a photo with a friend.
A student is surrounded by family members at Commencement.
Graduating student athletes walk together across the Quad.
The Guilford College Jazz Ensemble performs for visitors.
Two groups of students take photos outside the auditorium.
A member of the graduating class is all smiles in this photo with parents.
A graduate stands on stage in Dana Auditorium.
A junior makes a heart sign with their hands at Commencement.
Several family members take photos with their phones in the family viewing area.
Graduates take a photo with friends outside Dana Auditorium.
Commencement Schedule 2021
- 4 to 6 p.m. — Commencement Fair for graduates to pick up various regalia items, including Honors cords, athletics cords, BSU stoles, and other items from campus organizations
- 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. — Sankofa BAGC Pinning Ceremony, Hege Library Terrace
- 7:45 p.m. — Toast to the Light on Founders Terrace
- 3 p.m. — In-person ceremony for the Class of 2020; each student may invite up to four guests
- 9 a.m. — In-person ceremony for the Class of 2021; each student may invite up to four guests
- 7 p.m. — Baccalaureate LIVE on Zoom (see meeting details below)
Zoom Details:
Topic: Baccalaureate 2021
Time: May 14, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://guilford.zoom.us/j/94168373634?pwd=LzdpWHE5VG45NHBZQ0l0aWNKZVRWZz09
Meeting ID: 941 6837 3634
Passcode: 450634
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Meeting ID: 941 6837 3634
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On May 15, 2021, there will be a special virtual Commencement ceremony for 2020 and 2021 graduates that will feature Commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient Dr. Jocelyn Bell Burnell and student speaker Ree Ree Wei '21. The pre-recorded ceremony will also include footage from the in-person ceremonies that took place on May 7 and 8. Please check back here for link, which will be available at the time of the event.
To Family Members and Guests
Congratulations on the momentous and significant achievement of your student in becoming a Guilford College graduate! The Guilford community and extended family of alumni are eager to celebrate with you on Commencement day.
For those of us who work with your student, these four years went by far too quickly. It seems only a short time ago that we welcomed them as first-years on move-in day. We're proud of all of their achievements and look forward to seeing the bright future that awaits them.
Please refer to the following information as you make plans for the big day.
Information for Families and Guests
In addition to regularly marked spaces, the entire section of parking on George Fox Drive between New Garden Road and Levi Coffin Drive will be reserved for persons with disabilities during Commencement.
The College will engage the services of a photographer, who will photograph each graduating senior individually as his or her diploma is presented. We provide this service to ensure this moment is captured, thus relieving parents and friends of any need for photographing. An email will be sent to the graduating senior the week after Commencement with proofs and information on how to order. You can also search the photo proofs at gradimages.com.