The University of Texas at Dallas held 10 commencement ceremonies and a doctoral hooding ceremony on campus Aug. 9-12 to recognize the accomplishments of graduates whose in-person commemorations were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, new doctorate recipients from the summer 2021 semester attended a hooding ceremony, joining those who missed out on in-person recognitions in the past year. Attendees were strongly encouraged to wear masks during the ceremonies, where University leaders addressed the challenges and triumphs the UT Dallas community has experienced during the pandemic. Graduates were also offered the opportunity to defer attending to a future ceremony. “Similarly, in our personal lives, we faced delays in such rites of passage as starting careers or holding weddings.