Princeton University held its 274th commencement ceremony in Princeton Stadium.
The ceremony on May 16 was moved to Princeton Stadium to accommodate social distancing. The university’s traditional area for the ceremony is the lawn in front of Nassau Hall.
“By completing your studies amidst this awful pandemic, you have distinguished yourselves even by the standards of this University’s long and illustrious history,” President Christopher Eisgruber said during the ceremony. “And in so doing, you have earned the right to participate in this unique and memorable commencement ceremony, a ceremony that … provides a surprisingly apt metaphor for the past year.”
According to the university, an estimated 1,100 seniors, 200 graduate students and 3,000 guests were present on May 16. Students sat in chairs spaced apart on Powers Field, while guests were socially distanced in assigned seating among the stands.