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Scenes from VCU Business Spring 2024 Commencement

by Vivian Tran
A distinguished faculty member in academic regalia delivers a speech at the VCU commencement podium.

Thousands gathered for the VCU School of Business spring 2024 commencement celebrating graduates’ achievements with inspiring speeches and cheering families.

By: Megan Nash

On Saturday, May 11, the Stuart C. Siegel Center was filled with excitement, not for a basketball game, but for the VCU School of Business graduates.

Buzzing with the proud smiles of graduates, and the joyous cheers of their families, bouquets of flowers were carefully placed in empty seats, ready to be handed to graduates. Families and friends eagerly searched for their loved ones among the sea of caps and gowns.

Graduates in caps and gowns celebrating during the commencement ceremony, waving and smiling as they walk across the venue.
A graduate waves joyfully to the audience, while others in caps and gowns walk through the ceremony space with smiles.
The dean in academic regalia delivers a speech at the VCU commencement podium.

Interim Dean Brian Brown, Ph.D., began the ceremony with heartfelt words, emphasizing the resilience and innovation of the graduates.

“There’s something to be
said about the underdog.
They ‘think different.’
They are ‘uncommon,’”

he said, inspiring graduates to embrace their unique journeys and surpass expectations.

Keynote speaker delivers a commencement speech at the VCU podium, with their speech projected onto a large screen in the arena.

Keynote speaker and VCU Business alumnus Ankit Mathur (B.S. ’03, M.B.A. ’12, M.S. ’13) urged graduates to be authentic and to take risks. “Your core values and inner voice will guide you to a truer path than anything social media or AI could produce,” said Mathur, encouraging graduates to pursue genuine success and seize opportunities with a ‘why not?’ attitude.

The commencement speaker addresses the audience from the VCU stage, while faculty and students in the audience applaud and cheer.
Graduates seated in rows, with one standing and waving excitedly in a packed ceremony hall.

In honor of Mother’s Day, a tribute celebrated the influential women graduating and those in attendance, who stood in recognition while donning floral pins, adding a meaningful moment to the ceremony.

As each graduate’s name was called, the Siegel Center filled with cheers and whistles. Families captured every moment, and some students added a personal touch, dancing across the stage or performing a step routine.

The dean in academic regalia hands a diploma to a graduate during the VCU School of Business commencement ceremony.
A faculty member in full academic regalia places a hood over a graduate's shoulders during the hooding ceremony at the VCU School of Business commencement. A table stacked with rolled diplomas and banners for different business disciplines are visible on stage.
The dean shakes hands with a smiling graduate on stage at the VCU School of Business commencement ceremony. Other graduates are seen waiting in line in the background.
Families and friends in the audience cheer, clap, and take photos with their phones as graduates walk across the stage at the VCU School of Business commencement ceremony.
A graduate performs a celebratory jump on stage after receiving their diploma at the VCU School of Business commencement, with faculty and fellow graduates in the background reacting with excitement.

Outside, the celebrations continued with hugs, selfies and laughter. Graduates reunited with their families and friends, and a fraternity group entertained the crowd with an impromptu step routine.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You only get to cross a stage a few times in your life. It’s a blessing.

— VCU Business graduate George Bansah

Another graduate, Evan Torpy, shared his excitement about seeing his fellow classmates. “It was really cool to see people from the last four years walk across the stage,” said Torpy. “People I had almost forgotten I had class with—I was able to reconnect and celebrate with them.”

Families and graduates gather outside at night, taking photos and celebrating with friends and loved ones.
A group of graduates and friends posing together outside.
A graduate with flowers poses with a loved one for a photo, while a crowd gathers outside the VCU venue.
Graduates in black and gold caps and gowns celebrating, raising their diplomas, and taking selfies in the crowd.
Graduates in black and gold regalia walk across the ceremony floor, smiling and celebrating. A graduate in a decorated stole enthusiastically shakes hands while holding a diploma.
Two graduates in black caps and gowns stand with their backs to the camera, clapping towards the stage.
A close-up of a graduate’s cap decorated with the VCU logo in black and gold glitter.

As the evening came to a close, the Siegel Center’s lights dimmed, but the excitement and optimism among the VCU School of Business Class of 2024 were brighter than ever.

For more photos from commencement, check out the VCU Business Facebook page.

Congratulations, VCU Business Class of 2024!


Footnotes
Special thanks to Skip Rowland Photography for capturing this special moment for our graduates.

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