Campus & Community

The U.S. and university flags over Brookings Hall are lowered to half-staff until sunset Monday, May 16, in memory of the 1 million Americans who have died of COVID-19.

Otto Brown, a rising senior studying economics and political science in Arts & Sciences, has been recognized by the All In Campus Democracy Challenge as a member of its All In Student Voting Honor Roll.

Washington University will award five honorary degrees during its 161st Commencement May 20. Among the recipients is astronaut Mae Jemison, MD, who will deliver the Commencement address. Jemison was the first woman of color to travel into space.

Andrea Soranno, Kathleen Hall and Alex Holehouse, all at the School of Medicine, received a new five-year $3.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to research genome packaging of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Several distinguished speakers, faculty members and student leaders will take part in Commencement recognition ceremonies for Class of 2022 graduates and their families and guests May 18-20 at Washington University in St. Louis.

Ethan Lowder, a December 2021 graduate who majored in the biochemistry track of biology in Arts & Sciences, won the Ralph S. Quatrano Prize; Kayla Wallace, a senior majoring in environmental biology with a minor in anthropology in Arts & Sciences, received the Spector Prize.

Images from on and around the Washington University campuses.

Committed to academic excellence, service and their fellow students, the 3,400 members of the Class of 2022 have achieved so much during their years at Washington University in St. Louis — and all during a devastating pandemic. Class Acts, our annual celebration of outstanding graduates, shares the journeys and accomplishments of 13 students who exemplify the best of WashU.

Medical student Morgan Pfeiffer donated her kidney to a baby while an undergraduate student. She will earn her medical degree from Washington University this month and, next, start her residency at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Ellie Stitzer, who is set to graduate in May with a law degree from Washington University School of Law, is a passionate advocate for disability rights.