UCLA Commencement

UCLA Commencement is a significant event in the academic calendar of the University of California, Los Angeles, marking the culmination of students' academic journeys at UCLA College of Letters and Science, UCLA School of Law, UCLA Anderson School of Management, and other UCLA schools. The ceremony is attended by UCLA Chancellor, University of California, Los Angeles faculty, and esteemed guests, including Nobel Prize laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and Academy Award recipients like Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Kathryn Bigelow. The event is also an opportunity for UCLA to honor distinguished individuals, such as Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Nelson Mandela, with honorary degrees from UCLA College of Letters and Science and other UCLA schools. As a celebration of academic achievement, UCLA Commencement is often compared to other notable university commencement ceremonies, such as those at Harvard University, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

● History of

UCLA Commencement The history of UCLA Commencement dates back to the early 20th century, when the University of California, Los Angeles was founded in 1919 as the Southern Branch of the University of California. The first commencement ceremony took place in 1920, with Warren G. Harding, the President of the United States, in attendance, along with other notable figures like Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Over the years, UCLA Commencement has evolved to include various traditions and customs, such as the UCLA Alumni Association's annual meeting, which features keynote speakers like Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg. The ceremony has also been attended by prominent University of California officials, including University of California President Janet Napolitano and UCLA Chancellor Gene Block. As a testament to its rich history, UCLA Commencement has been compared to other historic university events, such as the University of Oxford's Encaenia ceremony and the University of Cambridge's Senate-House ceremony.

● Ceremony Traditions

UCLA Commencement ceremony traditions include the procession of graduates, faculty, and dignitaries, led by the UCLA Chancellor and the University of California, Los Angeles mace bearer, often a renowned UCLA faculty member like UCLA School of Law's Eugene Volokh or UCLA Anderson School of Management's Judy Olian. The ceremony also features the conferring of degrees, with graduates from UCLA College of Letters and Science, UCLA School of Law, and other UCLA schools receiving their diplomas from UCLA officials, including UCLA Dean Robin Garrell and UCLA Provost Scott Waugh. Additionally, the ceremony includes the singing of the UCLA Alma Mater, written by UCLA alumni Harold Williams and Gordon Levine, and the University of California, Los Angeles fight song, Sons of Westwood, which is often performed by the UCLA Bruin Marching Band.

● Notable Commencement Speakers

UCLA Commencement has featured a wide range of notable commencement speakers, including Nobel Prize laureates like James Watson and Rosalyn Yalow, Pulitzer Prize winners like Bob Woodward and Sarah Kendzior, and Academy Award recipients like Meryl Streep and Denzel Washington. Other notable speakers have included Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Nelson Mandela, who have all received honorary degrees from UCLA College of Letters and Science and other UCLA schools. The ceremony has also featured speeches by prominent University of California officials, including University of California President Janet Napolitano and UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, as well as UCLA faculty members like UCLA School of Law's Eugene Volokh and UCLA Anderson School of Management's Judy Olian.

● Commencement Venues

UCLA Commencement ceremonies have been held at various venues on the University of California, Los Angeles campus, including Pauley Pavilion, Rose Bowl Stadium, and Dickson Court North. The ceremony has also been held at off-campus locations, such as the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Hollywood Bowl, which have hosted other notable events like the Summer Olympics and the Academy Awards. In recent years, the ceremony has been held at Pauley Pavilion, which has undergone significant renovations, including the addition of a new UCLA Athletics hall of fame, featuring notable UCLA athletes like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

● Academic Regalia and Procedures

UCLA Commencement academic regalia and procedures are governed by the University of California, Los Angeles Academic Senate and the UCLA Commencement Committee. Graduates wear traditional academic regalia, including gowns, hoods, and caps, which are specific to their degree and field of study, such as the UCLA School of Law's Juris Doctor or the UCLA Anderson School of Management's Master of Business Administration. The ceremony also includes the conferring of degrees, with graduates receiving their diplomas from UCLA officials, including UCLA Dean Robin Garrell and UCLA Provost Scott Waugh. The ceremony is also attended by UCLA faculty members, who wear their own academic regalia, featuring the UCLA colors, True Blue and Gold.

● Special Commencement Events

In addition to the main UCLA Commencement ceremony, the University of California, Los Angeles hosts various special commencement events, including the UCLA College of Letters and Science's Departmental Commencement Ceremonies, which feature keynote speakers like UCLA School of Law's Eugene Volokh and UCLA Anderson School of Management's Judy Olian. The UCLA Alumni Association also hosts a Commencement Celebration, which includes a reception and a keynote speech by a notable UCLA alumnus, such as Randy Newman or James Dean. Other special events include the UCLA Graduate Division's Hooding Ceremony, which recognizes the academic achievements of UCLA graduate students, and the UCLA Student Affairs' Student Leadership Awards, which honor outstanding UCLA student leaders, such as UCLA Student Body President Danny Siegel.