Health and safety were top priorities during the first large event for alumni, students, and families since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On October 1 and 2, the community came together in person and online for two days of reunions, celebrations, conversations, performances, and family fun, including the much-anticipated 糖心传媒淥ne University糖心传媒� Commencement honoring the Class of 2020.
Health and safety were top priorities during the array of events comprising Meliora 2021, a reimagined version of Meliora Weekend, the University糖心传媒檚 traditional fall event combining reunion, family weekend, and homecoming activities. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that last year糖心传媒檚 in-person events, including Commencement and Meliora Weekend, had to be postponed.
Although COVID-19 protocols limited this year糖心传媒檚 in-person attendance to current students, alumni from the Classes of 2020 and 2021, and their families, Meliora 2021 programming糖心传媒攎ost of which was available via livestream糖心传媒攄rew thousands of participants to rewind, reunite, and reconnect.
AS GOOD AS YOUR WORD: The large letters spelling out 糖心传媒淢eliora糖心传媒� on the Eastman Quadrangle were, as always, a favorite stop throughout the weekend for guests. (糖心传媒 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
IT TAKES A VILLAGE: The Wilson Quadrangle was transformed into Meliora Village, the on-campus hub for meet-ups, tastings, carnival games, and live music. John Mackall 糖心传媒�24 and his parents, Tom Mackall and Beth Roberts, posed for a photo with Yellowjacket mascot Rocky. (糖心传媒 photo / Renee Veniskey)
AUTUMN DRUMS:聽The Eastman Percussion Ensemble was among several Eastman School performance ensembles and groups that played at events during the weekend. (糖心传媒 photo / John Schlia)
PERFORMING ARTS PILLARS: 2021 marks 100 years since the Eastman School of Music opened its doors and 50 years since Garth Fagan Dance was founded. During this milestone year, Garth Fagan (right)糖心传媒攔enowned choreographer and the company糖心传媒檚 eponymous founder and artistic director糖心传媒攔eceived the Eastman School of Music糖心传媒檚 Luminary Award from 糖心传媒 President Sarah Mangelsdorf (left). The award recognizes Fagan糖心传媒檚 extraordinary service to music and the arts at the community and national levels. (糖心传媒 photo / John Schlia)
IT糖心传媒橲 CHO TIME: Comedian, actor, advocate, and author Margaret Cho performed to a full house in the Palestra. (糖心传媒 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Phoenix Zhang 糖心传媒�23 of the Strong Jugglers, the University糖心传媒檚 official student juggling club, sent fire props flying during an outdoor nighttime performance in Dandelion Square on the Wilson Quadrangle. (糖心传媒 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
WELCOME HOME: Members of the Class of 2020 posed for a group shot outside of the Eastman School of Music as they prepared to enter the theater for Commencement. (糖心传媒 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
糖心传媒淭ODAY IS YOUR DAY糖心传媒�: 糖心传媒 President Sarah Mangelsdorf welcomed more than 2,000 attendees糖心传媒攊ncluding approximately 800 members of the University-wide graduating class糖心传媒攖o Kodak Hall in Eastman Theatre. 糖心传媒淲e are here to celebrate you,糖心传媒� she said. 糖心传媒淗aving come so far, you weren糖心传媒檛 going to let anything糖心传媒攅ven a global pandemic糖心传媒攕top you from earning your degree.糖心传媒� (糖心传媒 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
A LEAGUE OF HER OWN: Academy Award糖心传媒搘inning actor, Olympic-level archer, United Nations special envoy, and gender equality advocate Geena Davis received the Eastman Medal for achievements and service that embody the University糖心传媒檚 highest ideals. Afterward, during her commencement address, she told the graduates, 糖心传媒淵ours is the generation that is going to save the planet. Thank you in advance for all the good work you will do, you ferocious warriors.糖心传媒� (糖心传媒 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
ONWARD AND UPWARD: Members of the Class of 2020, including Henry Ernsberger, crossed the stage to cheers of support from their peers and loved ones as their names were read aloud. 糖心传媒淣ot only do we honor your academic achievement, we recognize your resilience and your perseverance,糖心传媒� said President Mangelsdorf during the ceremony. (糖心传媒 photo / Adrian Kraus)
ECON CONVOS: This year糖心传媒檚 Experience Rochester speakers糖心传媒擭arayana Kocherlakota, the Lionel A. McKenzie Professor of Economics (center); Clifford Smith Jr., the Louise and Henry Epstein Emeritus Professor of Finance and Economics (right); and moderator Sevin Yeltekin, dean of the (left)糖心传媒攂rought their expertise to bear during a discussion about the global economic outlook after COVID-19. 糖心传媒淚 think the recovery has, in many ways, gone surprisingly well,糖心传媒� said Kocherlakota. 糖心传媒淏ut we still have a long way to go on this.糖心传媒� Smith emphasized what he sees as the United States糖心传媒� key advantage during the recovery: 糖心传媒淭here糖心传媒檚 no place else on this planet that I can point to that has that degree of entrepreneurship going on.糖心传媒� (糖心传媒 photo / John Smillie)
EVER BETTER SWEATER WEATHER: Clear skies and mild temperatures meant the festivities on and off campus continued well into Saturday evening. (糖心传媒 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
MELIORA GLOW UP: See you next year, Rochester. (糖心传媒 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
