At the end of each May, the College of Natural Sciences celebrates another year's graduates, their impact at UT and the positive change they'll bring the world. This year's graduates were extraordinary, making countless contributions on the Forty Acres and in their communities. For them, the College of Natural Sciences missed having a live event this spring but instead held our first virtual commencement celebration. High-profile scientists, friends and faculty, as well as students themselves, joined in a day especially for recognizing and honoring our newest graduates.
Before the graduation started, College of Natural Sciences Dean Paul Goldbart offered up something that a gathering at the Erwin Center probably would not have permitted.
During graduation, Dean Goldbart usually gets to shake hands with each graduate as he wishes them well. Since our celebrations look a little different this year, he wanted to share this special sendoff for all our grads.#CNSGrad20 #UTGrad20 #FridayFeeling pic.twitter.com/Y10i15E3H2
— NaturalSciences @ UT (@TexasScience) May 22, 2020
When the convocation hour rolled around, a series of top scientists, activists, change-makers and stars of web and television programming dropped by to congratulate our graduates. They included 2017 Nobel Prize winner Michael Young, UT Regent Nolan Perez, Felicia Day of The Guild and Mystery Science Theater 3000 fame, Webby Award winner Joe Hanson, Internet Hall of Fame inductee Tracy LaQuey Parker, the man who told the world about the first detection of gravitational waves David Reitze and more.
Graduates themselves were at the heart of the event, lighting up social media with pictures taken both on campus and off.
2007 ➡️ 2020.. I did it dad! #UTGrad2020 pic.twitter.com/YOGq0qxABA
— D.M.III (@DanmtzIII) May 23, 2020
Most graduates contributed photos and quotes for their featured part of the virtual graduation. More than a dozen were highlighted in a video reel filled with reflections and snapshots of a life these student spent years getting to know well: that of a Natural Sciences student at The University of Texas at Austin.
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