The Atlanta skyline replaced the green of the Emory Quad, but as thousands of graduates gathered at the Georgia World Congress Center May 14-16 for the university’s 176th Commencement, the atmosphere of accomplishment, hope and abundant possibility was the same.  

They arrived in waves throughout the weekend, clad in the traditional caps and gowns, with smiling eyes and a few happy tears visible above their required face coverings. They were cheered on by those who supported them as they completed their degrees during a truly exceptional year — some family and friends attending in person and many more watching through livestreams that connected loved ones across the globe.

Instead of one central Commencement ceremony for Emory’s Class of 2021, there were 14, representing the university’s nine schools and multiple degree programs, to allow for appropriate physical distancing. There was also a special ceremony honoring the Class of 2020, whose Commencement last year had to be held virtually due to the pandemic.

“I know that this is not the typical setting — we’re here in downtown Atlanta and many are watching from around the world — but in a year where really nothing ‘typical’ happened, I think it’s understandable that we’re doing things differently today,” Emory President Gregory L. Fenves told graduates. “And this ceremony is just one example.

“You are a class of graduates like no other, and that’s not simply because of your remarkable skills and talents, but also because you were tested in ways that would’ve been unimaginable to previous generations of Emory alumni.”

Presiding over his first Commencement since taking the helm of the university in August, Fenves noted that as he got to know the Emory community over the past year, he was so impressed “by your unwavering dedication and the fact that you did not let anything get in the way of your goals and aspirations.”

“Graduates, you have shown what Emory students are capable of and you gave me an education of my own in heart, courage and commitment,” he said.

Courage and commitment were defining themes of the weekend, as Fenves also presented the Emory University President’s Medal via video to Dr. Anthony Fauci for his “extraordinary, lifesaving leadership” throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to his many years of public service.

Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, proved to be “a leader uniquely suited for a historic moment” who “helped guide us through the dark days of fear and confusion by explaining the science of viruses with clarity, candor and precision,” Fenves said.

Accepting the award, Fauci noted his four decades of “significant collaborations and shared experience” with scientists in Emory’s School of Medicine, College of Arts and Sciences, and the Rollins School of Public Health. He called for trust in science and an end to societal divisiveness to overcome the ongoing impact of the pandemic.

“This global health crisis has changed the landscape of all of our lives, and this has been and continues to be a challenging time for all of us,” he said. “Such times call upon all of us to work together.”

With Emory’s campuses operating at reduced density throughout the academic year, many graduates completed their courses remotely, but were excited to come together in person to celebrate earning their degrees.

Ilana Grabiner and Sadie Statman, who met early in their Emory years and bonded as sociology majors, waited together for the start of the Emory College ceremony. After graduation, Grabiner, who is from Long Island, New York, plans to pursue a career in dentistry. Statman, who is from Boston, is a Schwarzman Scholar, so she will head to Beijing in August to earn a master’s degree in global affairs and later plans to attend law school and then work at an NGO.

“It’s definitely bittersweet,” Grabiner noted. “I don’t want to leave Emory yet, but I’m excited for the next chapter.”

Maria Fernanda Perez Rojo’s parents brought her to the U.S. from Mexico at nine months old, leaving everything they knew behind to give their daughters a better life. As a first-generation college graduate and American, for her earning a degree in biology is about more than an individual accomplishment. It’s a sign of hope for her family and others in her community.

Now, she’s getting ready to apply to physician’s assistant school. “A college education isn’t attainable to everyone, and I was so blessed to receive a scholarship and financial aid that allowed me to go here,” Perez Rojo said.

Fizza Mahmood from Hoover, Alabama, is both a first-generation college graduate — and the third of three sisters to graduate from Emory.

Her sisters Aisha and Mahaa both graduated in 2020: Aisha with a master’s degree in public health and Mahaa with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and political science to prepare for law school. All three sisters were able to celebrate in person during this weekend’s ceremonies.

An international studies and Arabic major who begins medical school at the University of Alabama in the fall, Fizza Mahmood shared this advice for other first-gen students: “Take a leap of faith. As scary as it is, put your doubts aside and try.”

When Abel Girma came to Emory College, he thought he knew what he wanted to study. But Girma, who is from Ethiopia, says that he found his passion in public health because of the opportunity to have a global impact. He earned his degree in human health and plans to spend a year conducting research before pursuing a master’s degree in public health.

“I’m feeling nervous and excited,” Girma said. “It’s a long journey that we’ve had, and I’m grateful that we can make it here and share the diploma with our family and friends.”

About this story: Published May 17, 2021. Writing by Laura Douglas-Brown, Leigh DeLozier, Kelundra Smith, Susan Carini and Martha McKenzie. Photos and video by Kay Hinton, Jack Kearse, Stephen Nowland, Damon Meharg and Corey Broman-Fulks. Design by Laura Dengler.