Nick Norambucna celebrates during the UC Irvine graduation ceremony at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on
Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UC Irvine graduates gathered at Angel Stadium on Wednesday, June 15, to celebrate their achievement.
After studying through the pandemic, UCI officials said a campus-wide celebration was called for.
“Having our 2022 commencement celebration at Angel Stadium of Anaheim is our chance to celebrate, as an entire campus, the accomplishments of our graduating students and their families,” Chancellor Howard Gillman said. “They have demonstrated their resilience and perseverance over the last two difficult years, succeeding in and out of the classroom, and are prepared and eager to be our future workforce and leaders.”
New UC Irvine graduates celebrate outside Angel Stadium of Anaheim after commencement on Wednesday, June 15, 2022.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)UC Irvine students celebrate graduating during commencement ceremonies at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)UC Irvine students enter Angel Stadium of Anaheim onWednesday, June 15, 2022 for their graduation ceremony. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)Yusef Salaam, one of five men wrongly convicted in the 1989 “Central Park jogger case,” speaks about knowing who you are during the UC Irvine Commencement Celebration at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)A graduate wears a message on her mortar board during the UC Irvine Commencement Celebration at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)UC Irvine students wave to the TV camera during commencement at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)Celine Makhani waves to family members in the stands during UC Irvine commencement at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)A graduate wears a message on her mortar board during the UC Irvine Commencement Celebration at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)UC Irvine graduates let loose after the commencement ceremony at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. From left: Nick Norambucna, Justin Beltran and Oscar Tostado. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)A graduate wears a message on her mortar board during the UC Irvine Commencement Celebration at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)Anthony Zarate gets hoisted up for a photo by family members as he celebrates graduating from UC Irvine at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)UC Irvine students take selfies as they do the traditional switching of their mortar board tassels, from the right side to the left, during commencement at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
It was the first all-campus commencement ceremony held since 2014, when President Barack Obama was the graduation speaker. On Wednesday, Yusef Salaam, who was one of five men exonerated after being wrongly convicted in the 1989 “Central Park jogger case,” was the featured speaker.
More than 4,500 had signed up for the commencement; the university’s individual school still held their traditional ceremonies where students walked the stage to accept their diplomas.
Undergrads completed more than 8,300 degrees this year; 871 UCI students earned master’s degrees and 413 completed doctoral programs. Law degrees were earned by 143 students and 92 completed medical degrees.
