Hobart and William Smith Colleges

As is tradition on the day of Commencement, after watching the sunrise from Bozzuto Boathouse, HWS graduates jump into Seneca Lake.

Professor of Music Robert Cowles leads the Colleges Chorale.

Under the direction of Associate Professor of Music Mark Olivieri, members of the Jazz Ensemble perform at the start of Commencement. They include: Felix Beltre ’23, Luke Ward ’26, Ivan Malcolm ’23 and Professor of Biology Mark Deutschlander.

Members of the Classes of 2023 process to the Quad.

Dean of Spiritual Engagement and Chaplain Rev. Nita Byrd offers the opening prayer at Commencement 2023. Rabbi Dr. Ann Landowne delivered the Benediction.

Professor of Sociology Jack Harris places the hood on Patricia Adams L.H.D.’23 as she receives an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. Corporate professional, musician and journalist, Adams is the daughter of Hobart’s first Black graduate, the Rev. Dr. Alger L. Adams ’32, D.D. ’83.

President Mark D. Gearan confers an Honorary Doctorate of Science on Dr. Gilberto Arbelaez ’06; he was the only emergency physician on staff at Uvalde Memorial Hospital who treated victims in the immediate aftermath of the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

Honorary Trustee Cynthia Gelsthorpe Fish ’82 receives an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in recognition of her governance and leadership of the Colleges as well as her commitment to causes related to health, wellbeing and education.

After receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, HWS Lead Photographer Kevin Colton takes a selfie with President Mark D. Gearan.

City Year Cofounder Alan Khazei shares several life lessons from his experiences at City Year and other social change efforts, about living a life of consequence.

Videographer Brett Williams captures the Master of Arts in Teaching graduates as they celebrate.

Members of the William Smith lacrosse team gather for a photo. The Herons play in the NCAA Championship Semifinals at 3 p.m. on May 26.

Student speakers Irini Konstantinou ’23 of Williamson, New York, and Sreyan Kanungo ’23 of Dhaka City, Bangladesh gather for a photo.

Commencement speaker and City Year Cofounder Alan Khazei praises the passion and perseverance of the HWS graduates.

Shahkyle Matthews '22, MSM '23 of Piscataway, N.J., receives his diploma.

Families cheer on their graduates.

Gabriela Nieves '23 of Staten Island, N.Y., processes after the Ceremony.

More than 100 flags surround the Quad, representing the nations and territories from which students, faculty and staff hail and the locations where they study abroad.

In his valedictory address, President Mark D. Gearan asks graduates to consider the challenge of living a life of consequence by observing the words of Danish Philosopher Soren Kierkegaard: “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”

Students celebrate by tossing their mortarboards into the air.

Katerina Yacoub ’23 of Eastchester, New York, raises her decorated cap in the air.

Tyler Stimpson ’23 of Darien, Connecticut, poses with his family.

Mamadou Meite ’23 of New York, New York, and his family capture the moment in a selfie.

Katherine Brown '23, of Honeoye Falls, N.Y., and her family gather for a photo.

Kidus Asmare Ayele ’23 of Alexandra, Virginia, and friends pose in front of the flags of Egypt and Ethiopia flags.

Seamus Galvin ’23 of East Aurora, New York, joins with his family for a photo.