This Week in Photos: Graduation and Illumination

A sea of graduating seniors seated 6 feet apart in the middle of Dick Bailey Field serves as inspiration for this week’s photo series.

Two commencement ceremonies were held at the Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex this past Friday. The morning and afternoon exercises in the football field were a first for the college. Graduation had taken place in Tappen Square for decades, but with COVID-19 precautions in place, the field allowed for a more controlled setting. The two ceremonies also allowed for a reduction in crowd sizes.

Before each ceremony, seniors assembled in Williams Field House while the honor guard (consisting of faculty and staff) formed lines in a nearby parking lot for students to walk through. As guests cheered from the stands, graduating seniors were led from the lot and into the football field. The Class of 2021 is made up of 586 students. 

Although most Commencement/Reunion Weekend activities went virtual this year, some traditions remained, including Illumination. The lighting of the lanterns typically takes place in Tappan Square the day before graduation. This year the event was held in Wilder Bowl. Illumination is an Oberlin tradition that dates back to 1903.

View more images from this year’s graduation and Illumination on Oberlin’s Flickr page.