Home

10%

Commencement 2018

May 13, 2018 - Durham, NC

By Duke University

May 13^th, 2018

Congratulations Class of 2018!

At the institution’s 166th commencement ceremony, more than 5,500 new graduates were welcomed into the worldwide Duke alumni community. They were sent out into the world with a message of be fearless and take action.

Commencement in Under One Minute

THE MORNING OF

Students shared memories and visited their favorite campus spaces in a final stroll with classmates. Family members and friends excitedly awaited the ceremony.

Graduates posed with the architecture on West Campus.

Graduates posing in front of Duke Chapel.

Graduates walk across campus before commencement.

Two graduates help each other get their mortarboards on.

Robes billow as a graduate rushes towards and arch toward commencement

A graduate arrives at commencement on a moped.

The Blue Devil lifts a graduate in the field house.

The jumbotron at Wallace Wade Stadium lit up for commencement.

Duke shares parting words of advice from campus leadership and professors. Favorite campus characters made appearances as well.

Pomp and Circumstance

5,500 degree recipients plus one 11-year-old boy processed through Wallace Wade Stadium as the Duke Wind Symphony played Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance.” The boy, Stas Gwiezdzinska, marched in with his mother Joanna Klubo-Gwiezdzinska, who received a master of public health degree. “This is her sixth graduation,” Stas said proudly.

Graduates lined up, starting the procession onto the field at Wallace Wade Stadium.

Graduates cheer as they enter the stadium, finding friends and family in the crowd.

Graduates wave at the camera as they enter the commencement ceremony.

A graduate smiles and waves while walking to his seat.

A graduate blows a kiss into the crowd while walking onto the field.

Smiles are everywhere as the processions crosses the field.

Graduates excitedly wave to friends and family as they cross the field in front of the crowd.

Three graduates stop to pose and wave at cameras in the audience.

Graduates smile and wave at the camera while walking across the field.

Family and friends hold up paper fans to block the sun.

An audience member makes a heart sign above her head.

Smiling faces int he crowd as they wait to spot their graduate on the field.

Excited family members hold up cut-outs of their graduate’s face.

More excited family members hold up cut-outs of their graduate’s face.

A woman jumps up and waves her arms in the air as she spots her graduate.

Two women jump up, wave excitedly and celebrate as their graduate comes by. (1 of 3)

Two women jump up, wave excitedly and celebrate as their graduate comes by. (2 of 3)

Two women jump up, wave excitedly and celebrate as their graduate comes by. (3 of 3)

The faculty that have shepherded students through their years at Duke joined them on the field along with University leaders and distinguished guests.

Professor Don Taylor, carrying the university mace, leads the procession of faculty ou onto the field.

Provost Sally Kornbluth enters the stadium alongside former Durham Mayor Bill Bell followed by student speaker Deeksha Malhotra.

Faculty in various colored robes make stream towards the stage between the rows of graduates.

A faculty member walks in the procession out onto the field.

Faculty sit on the stage facing a packed stadium.

Everyone seated and ready for the ceremony to begin.

Welcome

Duke President Vincent Price welcomed guests and congratulated the Class of 2018 at his first—and Duke’s 166th—commencement ceremony.

President Price at the podium opening the ceremony.

A crowded stadium sits watching the commencement proceedings.

Student SPeaker: Deeksha Malhotra

This year’s student speaker, Deeksha Malhotra, shares an insight from her Duke experience that came to her when tutoring local middle school girls and discusses how her time here has taught her more about what she doesn’t know.

Watch the full speech »

Deeksha Malhotra greeting President Price and she steps up to the podium.

Keynote Speaker: Tim Cook

Apple CEO Tim Cook, a graduate of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a member of the university’s Board of Trustees, delivered Duke’s 2018 commencement keynote address. He urged Duke graduates to use their education to take action and create a better way forward for the world.

Watch the full speech »

Tim Cook stands at the podium to deliver the 2018 commencement keynote address.

Duke graduates gather for a selfie with Tim Cook.

Apple CEO Tim Cook waves to the crowd as he enters the stadium with President Price.

Tim Cook congratulates graduates as the platform party exits commencement.

Graduates cheer as degrees are conferred.

It’s A Wrap

President Vincent Price, celebrating his first commencement ceremony as Duke University President, ended the event by conferring the degrees on the graduates and taking off and waving his mortarboard as the students cheered. Price then built upon Cook’s address.

“You have a greater opportunity than ever before to make a meaningful change in the world,” Price said. “But you are not going it alone. We are all blessed to be part of a community of extraordinary people here in Durham and across the world. Wherever life takes you, Duke will always be your home.”