Commencement 2016
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Carmine Fiocca, lead mason in the University's Mason Shop, applies the final mortaring around the Class of 2016's commemorative stone on the northeast corner of Nassau Hall on Wednesday, May 25. The stone, made from "Dakota Mahogany" granite quarried in South Dakota, continues a tradition of honoring classes on Nassau Hall that dates to at least 1869.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2016)

Dan Zeltzer, who earned a Ph.D. in economics, celebrates his graduation with his wife, Efrat Kedem, and their 3-month-old daughter, Amalia.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2016)

Linda Falter (right) helps her daughter, Melody Falter, put on her robe before the Commencement ceremony.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Nick Barberio (2016)

Dashaya Foreman shows off the bejeweled cap that her mom decorated for Foreman to wear during Commencement.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Nick Barberio (2016)

Fidelina Martinez (left) and Juan Leiva (right), natives of El Salvador who live in Trenton, New Jersey, help their son Gerson Leiva (center), the first in his family to go to college, get ready before the processional.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Noel Valero (2016)

Seniors Phoebe Brown (left), Kimberly Klein and Kristin Lukins jump for joy on Cannon Green before the start of the ceremony.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Noel Valero (2016)

While waiting for Commencement to begin, graduate students pose for a "selfie" photograph on the lawn in front of Nassau Hall.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2016)

Seniors smile for the camera in unison while standing on front campus.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2016)

Undergraduate and graduate students stand and face the center walkway leading to Nassau Hall as they await the arrival of faculty members during the opening procession.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2016)

Esther Kim delivers the salutatory address. She replaced her mortar board with a garland as she spoke in Latin.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2016)

President Christopher L. Eisgruber smiles broadly from the stage in front of Nassau Hall at Princeton University's 269th Commencement on Tuesday, May 31. The warm and sunny weather was ideal for Commencement, when the University awarded degrees to 1,291 members of the undergraduate Class of 2016 and 906 graduate students.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2016)

Cameron Platt, an English major from Santa Barbara, California, delivers the valedictory oration.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2016)

Having just stepped through FitzRandolph Gate, these members of the Class of 2016 celebrate receiving their degrees from Princeton.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, John Jameson (2016)

With smiles and hugs, students prepare to celebrate their graduation from the University.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Noel Valero (2016)

Four outstanding New Jersey secondary school teachers honored at Princeton University's Commencement pose with President Christopher L. Eisgruber (third from right) and Christopher Campisano (far left), director of the Program in Teacher Preparation. Recipients are (from left to right), Richard Wertz of Verona High School in Verona; Matthew Morone of Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale; Barbara Fasano of High Point Regional High School in Sussex; and Ronald Duncan Jr. of Saint Anthony High School in Jersey City.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2016)

Four Princeton University faculty members received President's Awards for Distinguished Teaching at Commencement ceremonies. Here they pose with President Christopher L. Eisgruber (center). From left to right, Robert George, the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and professor of politics; Celeste Nelson, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering; Brian Kernighan, professor of computer science; and Michael Cook, the Class of 1943 University Professor of Near Eastern Studies.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2016)

Honorary degree recipients pose with President Christopher L. Eisgruber (third from right) in the Faculty Room at Nassau Hall. Degree recipients are (from left) Bryan Stevenson, lawyer and activist; Robert Rivers Jr., retired vascular surgeon and former Princeton University trustee; Eric Foner, writer and historian; Ben Bernanke, former chairman of the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve; Froma Zeitlin, the Ewing Professor of Greek Language and Literature, Emeritus, at Princeton; and Shuli Hu, editor-in-chief of Caixin Media; Bryan Stevenson, lawyer and activist.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2016)

Sandra Bermann, chief marshal for University Convocations and the Cotsen Professor in the Humanities, leads the procession at Princeton University's 269th Commencement.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Noel Valero (2016)

President Christopher L. Eisgruber speaks from the stage in front of historic Nassau Hall during Commencement on Tuesday, May 31, 2016.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2016)

Esther Kim delivers the salutatory address in Latin — a tradition dating to 1748 and Princeton's oldest student honor.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2016)

Valedictorian Cameron Platt addresses the Class of 2016 and guests.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, Denise Applewhite (2016)

Gonfalon bearers representing Princeton’s six residential colleges lead the undergraduate recessional.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, John Jameson (2016)

Members of the Class of 2016 celebrate as they exit FitzRandolph Gate.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, John Jameson (2016)

Graduates rejoice with a celebratory “selfie.”

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, John Jameson (2016)

Big smiles mark the day for these graduates as they exit FitzRandolph Gate and embark upon new paths.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, John Jameson (2016)

Friends savor the moment and the newly earned title of Princeton graduates as they pass through FitzRandolph Gate.

Photo: Princeton University, Office of Communications, John Jameson (2016)