Swarthmore College celebrated its 150th commencement ceremony with a historic event, as it honored the Classes of 2022 and 2020 on Sunday, May 22.

It was a historic Commencement weekend at Swarthmore. In addition to the 404 graduates of the Class of 2022 who received their degrees, the College also celebrated more than 200 members of the Class of 2020 and three from the Class of 2021 — young alumni who Provost and Dean of Faculty Sarah Willie-LeBreton declared "delayedus pandemicus."

At the ceremony, President Valerie Smith awarded four honorary degrees: a Doctor of Laws to immigration law scholar T. Alexander Aleinikoff '74, a Doctor of Arts to documentary filmmaker Marshall Curry '92, a Doctor of Science to Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Josh Green '92, and a Doctor of Arts to ballet dancer Virginia Johnson.

Special awards announced at the ceremony include the Oak and Ivy (Abigail Bautista '22, Chantal Reyes '22, and Murtaza Ukani '22), Lang (Sarah Weinshel '22) and McCabe Engineering (Yiyin Hu '22 and Andrew Olsen '22) awards.

Associate Professor of Sociology Nina Johnson and Tolulope Banjo '22 addressed the senior class at Last Collection on May 20. Speakers at this address, an assembly-style gathering, are chosen by the senior class. Additionally, Vanessa Meng '20 spoke at Last Collection for the Class of 2020 the following night. 

Professor of History Allison Dorsey addressed the graduating class at Baccalaureate services on May 21. The Baccalaureate is the spiritual component of Commencement weekend, featuring the inspirational remarks of a friend of the College.

Read a full recap of commencement and see what's next for 24 members of the Class of 2022.