Biology graduate Kierstin Ramos strikes a pose while walking on the stage during the AAPI Grad Ceremony on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at UC Riverside. (Courtesy of Stan Lim, UC Riverside)
UC Riverside’s class of 2024 graduated in ceremonies staged over several days in two locations.
Graduates earning their M.D., Ph.D., and MFA degrees celebrated on campus inside UCR’s Student Recreation Center. Those receiving other degrees and credentials celebrated at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, a news release states.
For the 2023-24 academic year, about 7,000 students were eligible to graduate and about 5,500 were expected to participate in commencements.
The off-campus location allows for air conditioning, more guest tickets, security, and better views of the ceremony, the release states. In the past, UCR graduations were outdoors on Pierce Lawn or near the Bell Tower and temperatures often crept toward the 100 degrees.
