Commencement 2024 in Pictures

Woman student in cap and gown for a college graduation.

Join in the celebration of Holy Cross’ 178th commencement.

Photos by

Matt Wright

Read Time

2 Minutes

The College of the Holy Cross conferred 751 bachelor of arts degrees on Friday, May 24, during its 178th commencement exercises held at the DCU Center in Worcester.

In his address to the graduates, President Vincent D. Rougeau said he had one final request for the class of 2024: “As you prepare to leave us, please share what you have learned here. Continue to be other focused. Carry the Jesuit ideals of compassion, understanding, and empathy forward. Trust in your capacious ability to navigate change and difficulty. Continue to find and share in joy and care, even when the moment might fall short of your expectations.”

Male college student cheering during commencement ceremony.
Parents cheering for students during a college commencement.
View from the audience of the platform party during a college commencement.
President Vincent D. Rougeau welcomes graduates to the College’s 178th Commencement: “The story of your class—from that less than ideal first year to now—speaks powerfully to what we really mean by ‘transformational’ experiences.”
Women college graduate waving to family from the audience during commencement ceremony.
Families cheer on graduates during commencement ceremony.
Student shakes hand with college president as she receives her diploma during commencement ceremony.
Liliana Zuniga Diaz ’24, an economics and international studies major, from Fort Worth, Texas.
Soon-to-be college graduates line up to walk into commencement ceremony.
Parents cheer for graduating seniors as the students walk into commencement ceremony.
Overall view of a commencement ceremony in a large arena.
Female student receives her college diploma from a college president during a commencement ceremony.
Nicole Soto Guerrero ’24, a sociology and Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean Studies major from Charlestown, Massachusetts.
Student walking into a commencement ceremony wave to family seating in a large arena.
Female student who just graduated college cheers after she receives her diploma.
Callie Wright ‘24, a member of the women’s basketball team, leaves the stage, diploma in hand.
Three women dressed in black graduation robes stand during a commencement ceremony.
Four alumnae of the class of 1974 attended commencement in celebration of the 50th anniversary of coeducation: (left to right) Christine Bania Kesten, Ann Marie (Reilly) Connolly and Kathleen (Scoble) Millard. Out of frame is Margaret (Schopfer) Pepe.
A woman NASA scientist smiles at an audience while she delivers a commencement address.
Commencement speaker Laurie Leshin, director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, told graduates: “It is so important that you do your best to find people - at work, or in life, who are willing to dare audacious things with you and support you as you do.”
A male honorary degree recipient shakes a college president's hand during a commencement ceremony.
Rev. Paul F. Harman, S.J., the College's inaugural vice president for mission, received an honorary degree from President Rougeau. At a May 23 celebration, Fr. Harman described hope as something that “stands forever intertwined with faith and with love.”
A male valedictorian smiles at his audience during his commencement address.
“In that inexplicable feeling that first drew us to Holy Cross, there was a signal of all of the extraordinary moments awaiting us,” Valedictorian Kevin Hamilton noted in his address.

During the ceremony, honorary degrees were given to commencement speaker Laurie Leshin, director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and former president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Rev. Paul F. Harman, S.J., a longtime Holy Cross administrator who played a key role in the College’s transition to coeducation.

Kevin Hamilton ’24, a political science and Spanish double major from Chelmsford, Massachusetts, delivered the valedictory address.

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