Members of Princeton University's Class of 2012 gathered on Cannon Green to share laughs and celebrate the accomplishments of their peers at the Class Day ceremony Monday, June 4. Class president Lindy Li holds the symbolic, oversized "key to campus" presented by Princeton President Shirley M. Tilghman to invite students to stay connected to the University after graduating.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2012)

In his Class Day address, actor and comedian Steve Carell gave the graduating seniors a lighthearted scolding for relying too heavily on technologies like texting and tweeting in favor of personal interactions. "You are young," he told the students. "And because of that, you are wrong."

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Steve McDonald (2012)

Tilghman wishes the seniors well as they prepare for the following day's Commencement ceremony and the end of their undergraduate years.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, David Kelly Crow (2012)

Many students in the audience covered their customary class jackets with ponchos while enjoying the ceremony.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2012)

Carell accepts his honorary membership to the Class of 2012 from Class Day co-chairs (from left) Christopher Green, Gabriel Debenedetti and Erin Kiernan.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Steve McDonald (2012)

Spencer Gaffney, one of the students speakers at Class Day, told his classmates that "for four short years we owned the school, made it our own, and now we have something to which we all will belong for the rest of our lives."

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, David Kelly Crow (2012)

Students laugh along with one of the humorous addresses at Class Day on the rain-soaked Cannon Green.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Steve McDonald (2012)

Members of the Class of 2012 enjoy some bonding time at the Class Day event.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2012)

The Class Day ceremony featured the induction of honorary members of the Class of 2012, including Derek DiGregorio (second from right, shaking hands with senior John Monagle). DiGregorio, a student at John Witherspoon Middle School in Princeton, started the organization Derek's Dreams to raise awareness about the rare degenerative disease Ataxia Telangiectasia.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2012)

Even rain couldn't dampen the spirits of seniors who shared many laughs at Class Day.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2012)

Advanced-degree candidates heard from columnist George Will, who earned his Ph.D. from Princeton in 1968 and was the first guest speaker in the history of the Hooding ceremony.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2012)

Chief marshal Douglas Clark presents Ann Marie Russell, a doctoral candidate in psychology and social policy, with her hood during the Hooding ceremony at McCarter Theatre.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Mark Czajkowski (2012)

Candidates for masters' and doctoral degrees, gathered in McCarter Theatre to receive their hoods, which distinguish the wearer by rank and academic discipline.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2012)