Winter Commencement 2024 in photos

Nearly 700 University of Pittsburgh graduates gathered in the Petersen Events Center on Dec. 17 to cross the stage and celebrate their achievements during Pitt’s first winter commencement ceremony.

Confetti flew, family and friends gathered, “Sweet Caroline” rang out — and it was clear the new ceremony would hold all the pomp and circumstance Pitt graduates have come to expect.

From this year on, Pitt will hold two University-wide commencement ceremonies: An event in the winter to honor those who will honor students who earn their degree between May and December, and a second in the spring for those who graduate between January and April.

The undergraduate speaker was Kwaku Frempong-Menso, a graduate of the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. Rajiv Vinnakota, a civic education advocate and president of the Institute for Citizens and Scholars, also delivered an address on “joyful arguing” and free expression to the graduates and their guests.

“To truly live a fulfilling life, a meaningful life, it’s not just the relationships with whom you agree that are important,” Vinnakota said in his speech. “You build a meaningful life by connecting and empathizing with those who you share space with at work, at school and in your neighborhood, even if they are very different from you.”

Keep scrolling to see more unforgettable moments from the day.