The Harvard Gazette

Campus & Community

Mission accomplished

The Class of 2013 lines up to process into the Memorial Church for Baccalaureate Service. Restricted to members of the graduating class, the service is intended as a farewell to seniors from the president and clergy, in a less formal setting than that on Commencement Day. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer — The Class of 2013 lines up to process into the Memorial Church for Baccalaureate Service. Restricted to members of the graduating class, the service is intended as a farewell to seniors from the president and clergy, in a less formal setting than that on Commencement Day. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Jon Chase, Rose Lincoln, Stephanie Mitchell, Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographers

DateMay 31, 2013September 7, 2016

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The journey was a long one, indeed.

The Class of 2013 arrived in 2009 eager, wild-eyed, and excited — and four years later, they would leave just the same way. There was Commencement speaker Oprah — Oprah! — ushering them into a new chapter, urging Harvard’s latest graduates to “max out” their humanity. There were friends and families cheering and snapping pictures from their seats in Tercentenary Theatre. There were cries, certainly, but cries of joy. With new degrees in hand, it was all over, and it was all worth it.

The Class of 2013 lines up to process into the Memorial Church for Baccalaureate Service. Restricted to members of the graduating class, the service is intended as a farewell to seniors from the president and clergy, in a less formal setting than that on Commencement Day. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer — 1The Class of 2013 lines up to process into the Memorial Church for Baccalaureate Service. Restricted to members of the graduating class, the service is intended as a farewell to seniors from the president and clergy, in a less formal setting than that on Commencement Day. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Workers from the William Blanchard Co. in Wakefield, Mass., raise the tent for Commencement inside Tercentenary Theatre. Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer — 2Workers from the William Blanchard Co. in Wakefield, Mass., raise the tent for Commencement inside Tercentenary Theatre. Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer

Outside Harvard Hall, the procession to the Phi Beta Kappa Literary Exercises heads toward Sanders Theatre. Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer — 3Outside Harvard Hall, the procession to the Phi Beta Kappa Literary Exercises heads toward Sanders Theatre. Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer

Colin Dickinson (from left), Christian Yoo, Gavin Pascarella, Brian Furey, and Courtney Diekema are pictured before the ROTC Commissioning Ceremony inside Boylston Hall. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer — 4Colin Dickinson (from left), Christian Yoo, Gavin Pascarella, Brian Furey, and Courtney Diekema are pictured before the ROTC Commissioning Ceremony inside Boylston Hall. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Victor Flores Jr. walks to accept the Ames Award during Class Day festivities. The Ames Award honors an unsung hero of the graduating class. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer — 5Victor Flores Jr. walks to accept the Ames Award during Class Day festivities. The Ames Award honors an unsung hero of the graduating class. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer

Views of Class Day inside Tercentenary Theatre. Former CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien was the day’s main speaker. Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer — 6Views of Class Day inside Tercentenary Theatre. Former CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien was the day’s main speaker. Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer

A lone bagpiper stands before Eliot House in the minutes leading up to Harvard’s 362nd Commencement. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer — 7A lone bagpiper stands before Eliot House in the minutes leading up to Harvard’s 362nd Commencement. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer

Extension School graduate Abate Kenna rides the Red Line into Harvard on Commencement morning. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer — 8Extension School graduate Abate Kenna rides the Red Line into Harvard on Commencement morning. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer

Students pass by the Pusey Room after enjoying Morning Services at the Memorial Church during Commencement. Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer — 9Students pass by the Pusey Room after enjoying Morning Services at the Memorial Church during Commencement. Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer

Commencement speaker Oprah Winfrey signs the guest book in Massachusetts Hall. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer — 10Commencement speaker Oprah Winfrey signs the guest book in Massachusetts Hall. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Honorands pose for a photo outside Massachusetts Hall. Among them is, of course, Oprah Winfrey — and to her right, Thomas M. Menino, Boston’s longest-serving mayor. On the back row (from left) is C. Dixon Spangler Jr., Donald R. Hopkins, Lord May of Oxford, Sir Partha Dasgupta, JoAnne Stubbe, and Elaine Pagels. On the front row (from left) is Maestro Jose Antonio Abreu, Provost Alan M. Garber, President Drew Faust, Winfrey, and Menino. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer — 11Honorands pose for a photo outside Massachusetts Hall. Among them is, of course, Oprah Winfrey — and to her right, Thomas M. Menino, Boston’s longest-serving mayor. On the back row (from left) is C. Dixon Spangler Jr., Donald R. Hopkins, Lord May of Oxford, Sir Partha Dasgupta, JoAnne Stubbe, and Elaine Pagels. On the front row (from left) is Maestro Jose Antonio Abreu, Provost Alan M. Garber, President Drew Faust, Winfrey, and Menino. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Provost Alan M. Garber, Oprah Winfrey, and President Drew Faust share a light moment during their photo op outside Massachusetts Hall. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer — 12Provost Alan M. Garber, Oprah Winfrey, and President Drew Faust share a light moment during their photo op outside Massachusetts Hall. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer

George Barner ’29 is in lively spirits, despite the day’s blistering heat. At 104 years old, he’s the alumnus from the oldest class year. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer — 13George Barner ’29 is in lively spirits, despite the day’s blistering heat. At 104 years old, he’s the alumnus from the oldest class year. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer

Shalini Pammal (left) and Alexandra Marie Garcia share a hug at the announcement of their degrees. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer — 14Shalini Pammal (left) and Alexandra Marie Garcia share a hug at the announcement of their degrees. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer

Nadia Farjood (from left), Jose Villanueva, Everton Blair, and Margot Leger take a “selfie” to remember Commencement forever. Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer — 15Nadia Farjood (from left), Jose Villanueva, Everton Blair, and Margot Leger take a “selfie” to remember Commencement forever. Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer

Camille Owens sends a text during Commencement. Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer — 16Camille Owens sends a text during Commencement. Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer

Proud family members photograph their daughters and sons — their new Harvard graduates! Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer — 17Proud family members photograph their daughters and sons — their new Harvard graduates! Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino receives an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer — 18Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino receives an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer

The lady herself! Crimson suits her, no? Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer — 19The lady herself! Crimson suits her, no? Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer

A sea of crimson robes and Commencement caps. Congratulations Class of 2013! Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer — 20A sea of crimson robes and Commencement caps. Congratulations Class of 2013! Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer

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Campus & Community

Winfrey’s Commencement address

Oprah Winfrey offering advice to the Class of 2013: "If you're willing to listen to, be guided by, that still small voice that is the G.P.S. within yourself — to find out what makes you come alive — you will be more than okay. You will be happy ..." — Oprah Winfrey offering advice to the Class of 2013: "If you're willing to listen to, be guided by, that still small voice that is the G.P.S. within yourself — to find out what makes you come alive — you will be more than okay. You will be happy ..."

Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer