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Get the most interesting and important stories from the University of Pittsburgh.Vaccines and portraits and in-person classes … these are a few of our favorite things.
The photographers in the Office of University Communications and Marketing, Tom Altany, Mike Drazdzinski and Aimee Obidzinski, reflect on a year that seemed to pass in the blink of an eye by sharing some of their favorite and most memorable moments they captured on the Pittsburgh campus in 2021.
The year began with the great anticipation and hope that COVID-19 vaccinations would bring us back to some semblance of normalcy, and so they did. How sweet it was to see the campuses populated again with students, faculty and staff.
Like an image that slowly came into focus, more and more people returned until the streets seemed to burst back to life with the start of the fall term: From clinics and volunteer work that made a difference in the community to research that pushed the boundaries of knowledge forward, our people and programs persevered. The year ended on a high note with women’s volleyball making it to the NCAA quarterfinals (cheer for them on Dec. 16 against Nebraska) and the football team conquering the Atlantic Coast Conference — not to mention quarterback Kenny Pickett’s run for the Heisman Trophy (watch them play in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30).
The cloud of the coronavirus might be lingering but it certainly didn’t stop us Panthers.
Here are 20 moments the photographers and Pittwire team thought you might want to revisit.
— Aimee Obidzinski
![Melissa McGivney holding vials of COVID-19 vaccine at the Petersen Events Center](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/20210128_ao_vaccine_clinic_0081_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=OIXmUm3F)
![Students lined up at the Class of 2021 commencement ceremony at PNC Park](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/3824_md_a_scgsgraduation_0163a_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=zZyLHYvr)
![Cathedral of Learning behind trees and greenery](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/20210527_ao_campus_sustainability_0024_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=ihkDk_CP)
![Toyin Ajayi and Kendra Rowey proudly holding their diplomas for photo](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/20210515_ao_dental_commencement_1120_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=z7c4NK4f)
![Construction worker on a lift working on campus building](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/20211110_ta_4237_lrdc_0047_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=a4Y9tRRq)
![Lillian Chong sitting during an outdoor portrait session on campus.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/20210913_ta_4095_lillian-chong_0011_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=p4DOxCig)
![Roc greeting a student with a fist bump as they enter the Petersen Events Center](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/4029_studentconvocation_md_0046a-2_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=ONHP1YRf)
![Students cheering on teammate during cup stacking activity](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/20210824_ao_grad_picnic_0501_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=vl6_BS7O)
![PT exercise on Cathedral Lawn during early morning hours](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/20211102_ao_rotc_day_0230_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=5ChU0K5o)
![Pitt Band marching through campus after football victory](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/20210924_bandwalk_md_0050_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=cY6T8WU1)
![Two students playing a duet on a guitar during Parking Day](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/20210917_ao_parking_day_0133_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=qclGyAPj)
![Students practicing procedures for identifying and treating heat stroke in athletes](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/20211005_ao_shrs_immersionclass_0180_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=ifLL5WJm)
![Pitt Sustainability volunteers planting trees in Oakland](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/4236_treeplanting_md_0075a_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=yXXUQhL-)
![Kenny Pickett running during Pitt football game](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/pittvmiami-84_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=WXYIiQVF)
![School of Dental Medicine volunteers working on patient](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/20211022_ta_4204_mission-of-mercy_0195_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=BA9XQhBn)
![Sanford Asher looking to the side in front of dark background](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/20210715_ta_sanford-asher_0031_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=yVBcN14J)
![Antony Blinken walking through lab with Paul Duprex](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/20210930_ao_blinken_visit_0134_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=R3wvqah0)
![Foundations of Chemical Engineering students launching their hot air balloon design](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/4254_ce-balloonflights_md_0098a_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=wEAa4xOy)
![Bernard Hibbitts sitting outside with hands on lap](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/20211021_ta_4207_bernard-hibbitts_0114_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=1wyc4isO)
![Pitt students building gingerbread Cathedral of Learning](/sites/default/files/styles/image_media_callout/public/2021-12/20211202_ta_4268_gingerbread_0157_gallery.jpg?h=4c6af902&itok=V-1EmWyE)