As a joyous parade of soon-to-be graduates snaked toward Yale’s Old Campus, where family and friends awaited the formal start of Commencement on the storied grounds, Adam Walker took a moment to soak it all in. “I’m really excited to see all my hard work come together in these final moments,” said Walker, a graduating Yale College senior from Long Island, who marched alongside his Branford classmates on Monday.Along pathways and sidewalks and streets, the sounds of bagpipes, chimes, and church bells mingled with cheering well-wishers as the graduates proceeded from every corner of campus, representing every undergraduate residential college and all the professional and graduate schools.
Yale President Maurie McInnis and Provost Scott Strobel
Photo by Allie Barton
Yale Law School student Victor Agbafe had begun the day in prayer. As the ceremony approached, he swelled with a feeling of gratitude. “I got on my knees this morning and prayed and gave thanks for all the transformational moments through which I learned so much here,” he said as he walked along Grove Street with his classmates. “I am so grateful.”Once all of this year’s graduates filed into their seats, Yale’s 325th annual Commencement ceremony began in earnest.“We gather to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments all of you worked so hard to complete,” said Yale President Maurie McInnis, who welcomed the Class of 2026 as raucous applause broke out.
