Campus & Community

Washington University celebrated its160th Commencement not once, but eight times on May 20 and May 21. The Record kept a diary of the days’ sights and stories, including three alumni who competed on Francis Field and returned there to watch their children graduate; five Olin student-athletes on their way to NCAA Division III baseball championships; and one very elated chancellor thrilled to lead his first in-person Commencement.

At the 160th Commencement, one like no other in university history, NBA great and social justice advocate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar told the Class of 2021 to write their own story — but to make sure it went beyond themselves.

An unprecedented academic year coming to a close brings an unprecedented Commencement for graduating students this week. To allow for in-person ceremonies, the traditional universitywide ceremony in Brookings Quadrangle will be broken up into eight ceremonies over the next two days, May 20 and 21, on Francis Olympic Field.

Senior Class President Michelle Wang says her classmates share a deeper sense of empathy, one they earned the hard way.

Two psychological and brain sciences students in Arts & Sciences received Research Excellence Awards from the Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences.

Back when Henlay Foster first enrolled at Washington University, Ethan Shepley was chancellor, Olin Library didn’t exist and the campus had, at long last, racially integrated. That was 1954. Now, 67 years later, Foster will graduate with a degree in music from Arts & Sciences at age 84.

Over the past five weeks, Class Acts has celebrated the makers and the advocates, the researchers and the champions for health equity. Here, we meet three public servants who have worked to build a stronger St. Louis: David Blount, a policy expert at the Brown School, Deanna Davise, a defender of children at the School of Law, and Theresa Matheus, a middle school educator at University College.

Irene Hamlin, a senior majoring in biology with a minor in medical humanities in Arts & Sciences, will receive this year’s Harrison D. Stalker Award, in recognition of outstanding scientific scholarship with significant contributions in the arts and humanities.

A number of distinguished speakers, faculty members and student leaders will take part in Commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2021 on May 20 and 21 at Washington University.

Dani Wilder, a December 2020 graduate of the biochemistry track of biology in Arts & Sciences, will receive the Ralph S. Quatrano Prize. It is awarded to the thesis showing the greatest evidence of creativity in design, research methodology or broader scientific implications.