Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Shahkyle Matthews '22, MSM '23 of Piscataway, N.J., receives his diploma.

Tyler Stimpson ’23 of Darien, Connecticut, poses with his family.

More than 100 flags surround the Quad, representing the nations and territories from which students, faculty and staff hail and the locations where they study abroad.

Gabriela Nieves '23 of Staten Island, N.Y., processes after the Ceremony.

In his valedictory address, President Mark D. Gearan asks graduates to consider the challenge of living a life of consequence by observing the words of Danish Philosopher Soren Kierkegaard: “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”

Katerina Yacoub ’23 of Eastchester, New York, raises her decorated cap in the air.

Students celebrate by tossing their mortarboards into the air.

Student speakers Irini Konstantinou ’23 of Williamson, New York, and Sreyan Kanungo ’23 of Dhaka City, Bangladesh gather for a photo.

Dean of Spiritual Engagement and Chaplain Rev. Nita Byrd offers the opening prayer at Commencement 2023. Rabbi Dr. Ann Landowne delivered the Benediction.

Professor of Sociology Jack Harris places the hood on Patricia Adams L.H.D.’23 as she receives an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. Corporate professional, musician and journalist, Adams is the daughter of Hobart’s first Black graduate, the Rev. Dr. Alger L. Adams ’32, D.D. ’83.

Members of the Classes of 2023 process to the Quad.

Professor of Music Robert Cowles leads the Colleges Chorale.

Under the direction of Associate Professor of Music Mark Olivieri, members of the Jazz Ensemble perform at the start of Commencement. They include: Felix Beltre ’23, Luke Ward ’26, Ivan Malcolm ’23 and Professor of Biology Mark Deutschlander.

President Mark D. Gearan confers an Honorary Doctorate of Science on Dr. Gilberto Arbelaez ’06; he was the only emergency physician on staff at Uvalde Memorial Hospital who treated victims in the immediate aftermath of the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

Videographer Brett Williams captures the Master of Arts in Teaching graduates as they celebrate.

Members of the William Smith lacrosse team gather for a photo. The Herons play in the NCAA Championship Semifinals at 3 p.m. on May 26.