UCLA hosted three main commencement ceremonies on Friday, June 16, inside Pauley Pavilion at the Westwood campus.
Graduates celebrate after UCLA’s commencement ceremony in Pauley Pavilion on the Westwood campus on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Students look for family and friends during UCLA’s commencement ceremony in Pauley Pavilion on the Westwood campus on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Students look for family and friends during UCLA’s commencement ceremony in Pauley Pavilion on the Westwood campus on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Desirae Barragan, of the Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians, does a land acknowledgment during UCLA’s commencement ceremony in Pauley Pavilion on the Westwood campus on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Natasha Bailey interprets in American Sign Language the National Anthem during UCLA’s commencement ceremony in Pauley Pavilion on the Westwood campus on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
UCLA holds a commencement ceremony in Pauley Pavilion on the Westwood campus on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chancellor Gene Block addresses graduates during UCLA’s commencement ceremony in Pauley Pavilion on the Westwood campus on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
UCLA students are recognized with honors during the school’s commencement ceremony in Pauley Pavilion on the Westwood campus on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Actor comedian Randall Park gives the keynote address during UCLA’s commencement ceremony in Pauley Pavilion on the Westwood campus on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Actor comedian Randall Park gives the keynote address during UCLA’s commencement ceremony in Pauley Pavilion on the Westwood campus on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Graduates celebrate during UCLA’s commencement ceremony in Pauley Pavilion on the Westwood campus on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A graduate wears UCLA blue during UCLA’s commencement ceremony in Pauley Pavilion on the Westwood campus on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Graduates turn their tassels during UCLA’s commencement ceremony in Pauley Pavilion on the Westwood campus on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Graduates celebrate after UCLA’s commencement ceremony in Pauley Pavilion on the Westwood campus on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Graduate Ali Janku, 22, is lifted by her sisters Helena, 19, and Olivia, 24, during family photos after UCLA’s commencement ceremony on the Westwood campus on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The ceremonies recognized the bachelor’s degree recipients in the College of Letters and Science only. Individual recognition of students took place at the departmental ceremonies and graduates could attend either or both of these ceremonies.
Actor, writer, comedian and UCLA alumnus Randall Park delivered the keynote address at Friday’s 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ceremonies.
Graduating senior Desirae Barragan, of the Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians, gave the land acknowledgement speech at the beginning of the ceremony.
Graduating seniors Faaizah Arshad and Joyce Kuo were the 11 a.m. class speakers. Graduating seniors Shane Smith and Sriha Srinivasan spoke at the 3 p.m. ceremony, and at the 7 p.m. ceremony, graduating seniors Karen Dutko and Anvi Brahmbhatt gave their class speeches.
During the Friday ceremonies, individual student names weren’t read aloud and graduates didn’t cross a stage in Pauley Pavilion. Instead, the graduates were asked to stand in the graduate seating area to receive applause from the throngs of invited guests.
This year 9,100 students earned bachelor’s degrees and 5,000 earned graduate degrees.
Speakers at all three of the graduation ceremonies were Gene Block, the UCLA chancellor and college deans Miguel García-Garibay, physical sciences; Alex Stern, humanities; Tracy Johnson, life sciences; Abel Valenzuela Jr., social sciences; Adriana Galván, undergraduate education.
Before leaving through the pavilion’s tunnel, graduates moved their tassels from right to left and listened to UCLA’s Alma Mater and the fight song.
The ceremonies concluded with UCLA’s “eight-clap” (from the Bruin Blog, bit.ly/3XbpjRY).
For family and friends who were unable to attend, all three commencement ceremonies were live streamed: commencement.ucla.edu
