“Walking the Lawn”

Waiting for the graduation ceremony to begin.

The major buildings of the campus of the University of Virginia were designed by the founder, Thomas Jefferson. His vast lawn extends in front of the Rotunda, a building that he designed. Because Jefferson was opposed to formal graduation ceremonies (or even to granting degrees), the first ceremonial procession was held in 1829, after his death, and the tradition of “walking the lawn” has continued ever since that time. A wide aisle is left between the huge number of chairs where the families of the graduates watch the spectacle.

The procession of Arts & Sciences graduates began at around 9 AM this morning.
We had been waiting in our seats for over an hour when we finally heard “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Although solemn processional music accompanies the marchers, sometimes the 
crowds of graduates with every imaginable shape of balloon verges on chaotic.

Alice and Jacob marching in their graduation.

When all the graduates are in their seats at the far end of the lawn, the actual ceremony begins. There are traditional speeches and presentations by the University President and other leaders, including the granting of degrees to several thousand graduating students. Later in the day, additional programs are held by the individual departments and programs that are graduating students. Alice’s two majors were mathematics and computer science, so we attended those graduation ceremonies.

The Computer Science graduation was held in the basketball arena.
Around 400 undergraduate majors received their degree.

Alice walks across the stage and receives her diploma.

Update: Alice receives her math diploma:

—photo by Evelyn

Update: Inside the Procession

— photo by Alice inside the balloons.

Blog post and all photos © 2025 mae sander.