Under the bright North Carolina sun, UNC was finally able to celebrate its graduates with in-person commencement ceremonies for the first time since 2019.

“You, the Class of 2021, have accomplished something really hard,” said UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz. “Along with your faculty, your families and your friends, we are lucky to have been on this journey with you. We celebrate what you’ve accomplished, and we’re excited for your future.”

In 2020, the university was forced to postpone in-person commencement for graduates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This weekend, however, after months of waiting, UNC was able to celebrate its nearly 6,300 graduates in Kenan Stadium.

Overall, the university welcomed 4,068 undergraduates, 1,588 graduate students and 627 professional students into its ranks of alumni.

This weekend’s commencement ceremonies were highlighted by its guest speakers — Drs. Anthony Fauci and Kizzmekia Corbett, two of the most notable experts on COVID-19 pandemic research.

In his speech, Fauci noted that UNC graduates would help shape the future after the COVID-19 pandemic and encouraged them to find a way to serve their communities.

“How you have responded to this pandemic thus far gives me confidence that you will adjust and you will thrive,” he said.

Corbett, who graduated from UNC with a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology in 2014 and recently accepted a position on Harvard’s faculty, began her virtual speech with a hearty Tar Heels chant, which she playfully said she “couldn’t hear” from the crowd at Kenan Stadium before trying again.

She referenced the importance of home, which for Corbett is just a few miles from UNC’s campus in neighboring Hillsborough.

“Home just isn’t about the place you were raised. Home is… the culmination of places that amass experiences that shape who you are, that shape who you will be,” Corbett said. “Home is Carolina.”

While UNC held in-person ceremonies for the Class of 2021 this weekend, it still intends to celebrate the Class of 2020 later this year. More information on plans from the university can be found here.

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