Caltech graduation's in-person watch…
Caltech graduation's in-person watch party was 'bittersweet' for parents
The institution celebrated its 127th commencement in hybrid fashion, with an in-person celebration fought for by students.
Following the commencement ceremony, some of the new graduates who had gathered on campus joined a virtual champagne toast over Zoom on Friday, June 11, 2021. Parents and friends congratulated the graduates, while the new alumni shared their favorite memories of the Institute. Caltech President Thomas Rosenbaum quoted a few lines from the poet Mark Strand before telling the graduating class, "You will move through life shaped by Caltech. I wish you wholeness and magic on your journey forward." (Photo courtesy Caltech) Credit: Caltech
By Ryan Carter | rcarter@scng.com | Daily News
PUBLISHED: June 11, 2021 at 5:40 p.m. | UPDATED: June 11, 2021 at 5:43 p.m.
Caltech's Class of 2021 graduated Friday, June 11 from the campus and from around the globe.
There they were, hybrid-style, a crowd of graduates, faculty and staff gathered, in places near and far: Palo Alto, Korea, France, Pasadena, Michigan, Taiwan, Orange County. But no matter where they were, they were all watching screens. The institute's 127th commencement ceremony was presented, like many in the era of pandemic, streamed online.
On campus in Pasadena, a group of students dressed in regalia, watched speakers and themselves from the South Athletic field as their photos and names scrolled on a big screen placed on campus.
It almost didn't happen this way. Many students wanted an on-campus, in-person commencement in which students would be able to walk across a stage and receive a diploma.
Instead, the institution took a more cautious approach than other Southern California colleges. Officials at the small but prestigious school, home to more than 50 research centers and institutes, aimed to prevent a possible outbreak from derailing research programs planned for summer and fall.
Students pushed back on what was initially planned solely as a virtual commencement. After students stood their ground, the university shifted, adding an on-campus watch party along with the virtual component.
"Few classes before you have been called upon to summon the endurance, resilience and grit you've exhibited," said Norman R. Augustine, retired chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp., the commencement speaker.
Following the commencement ceremony, some of the new graduates who had gathered on campus joined a virtual champagne toast over Zoom on Friday, June 11, 2021. Parents and friends congratulated the graduates, while the new alumni shared their favorite memories of the Institute. Caltech President Thomas Rosenbaum quoted a few lines from the poet Mark Strand before telling the graduating class, "You will move through life shaped by Caltech. I wish you wholeness and magic on your journey forward." (Photo courtesy Caltech)Credit: Caltech
They'll need that grit and resilience, Augustine said, as the graduates of today will be on the leading edge of climate change, declining infrastructure and disparities among people. But he also encouraged graduates to take hold of opportunities when they present themselves.
Following the commencement ceremony, some of the new graduates who had gathered on campus joined a virtual champagne toast over Zoom.
Parents and friends congratulated the graduates, while the new alumni shared their favorite memories of the institute.
Caltech President Thomas Rosenbaum quoted a few lines from poet Mark Strand before telling the graduating class, "You will move through life shaped by Caltech. I wish you wholeness and magic on your journey forward."
All told, there were 476 graduates, according to Caltech: 227 with bachelor's degrees, 104 with master's degrees and 145 with Ph.D.s.
And yes, engineering was a huge degree, but so were mathematics and astronomy.
Nayla Abney, a senior chemical engineering student, was among the several who gathered Friday on campus, a result for which she had advocated. Many had not seen their own peers for months. It was a chance, even without the commencement walk, to simply reconnect with friends. But it was just for students.
So parents her parents and younger sister, who had come from New Jersey to celebrate with Nayla, gathered instead at Dog Haus in Pasadena with other parents to watch the commencement. They brought laptops and cheered as their children's names were read.
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Then, they scurried back to campus to greet the graduates as they left the in-person watch ceremony.
It was "bittersweet," mother Radia Abney said. But so worth it.
"We all cheered for our respective kids. And we enjoyed it that way," she said. "We were able to see the kids walk into the event. And we were there afterwards to see them walk out. We heard them cheer, clap, yell.
"It made us feel happy to hear them enjoying the moment. It was bittersweet. Because we weren't there to enjoy it with them."
Ryan Carter | Reporter
Ryan Carter is an editor for the Southern California News Group, who also writes stories for the group. Ryan started his career writing obituaries at the Glendale News-Press, before working as assistant city editor for Times Community News (Division of the L.A. Times) and city editor for the Glendale News-Press, San Bernardino Sun and L.A. Daily News. Ryan earned a BA degree in Political Science from UCLA and in 2022 earned his Master's of Legal Studies at UCLA.
rcarter@scng.com
Follow Ryan Carter @ryinIE