This weekend was the culmination of years of hard work for a new class of UNC graduates.

More than 6,000 newly-minted alumni gathered in Kenan Stadium under beautiful Carolina Blue skies on Sunday to celebrate graduation day.

Chancellor Carol Folt urged the graduates to give back and help others as faculty had aided the students to this day.

“They’ve helped you to excel, to work, to grow,” she said, “some have helped you build companies and fight for things that matter to you.”

Commencement speaker Anne-Marie Slaughter told graduates to carry forward an attitude of equality as they enter the work force.

“It is time for men in this generation alongside women, as equals, to be bold and to break the mold of traditional expectations for how men should lead their lives,” she said, “just as we have broken those expectations for how women should lead their lives.”

Folt also had a parting message for the graduates.

“My charge to the Class of 2016 is to continue to learn to trust yourselves, your voice, to remain true to your hearts and to your values.”

Sunday was the culmination of a weekend-long celebration on the Chapel Hill campus. Beginning on Friday, UNC has held celebrations for military-affiliated graduates, first-generation graduates and the doctoral hooding ceremony, among other festivities.

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