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 鈥淥ne University鈥� 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鈥檚 traditional fall event combining reunion, family weekend, and homecoming activities. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that last year鈥檚 in-person events, including Commencement and Meliora Weekend, had to be postponed.
Although COVID-19 protocols limited this year鈥檚 in-person attendance to current students, alumni from the Classes of 2020 and 2021, and their families, Meliora 2021 programming鈥攎ost of which was available via livestream鈥攄rew thousands of participants to rewind, reunite, and reconnect.
AS GOOD AS YOUR WORD: The large letters spelling out 鈥淢eliora鈥� on the Eastman Quadrangle were, as always, a favorite stop throughout the weekend for guests. (人妻少妇专区 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 鈥�24 and his parents, Tom Mackall and Beth Roberts, posed for a photo with Yellowjacket mascot Rocky. (人妻少妇专区 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. (人妻少妇专区 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)鈥攔enowned choreographer and the company鈥檚 eponymous founder and artistic director鈥攔eceived the Eastman School of Music鈥檚 Luminary Award from 人妻少妇专区 President Sarah Mangelsdorf (left). The award recognizes Fagan鈥檚 extraordinary service to music and the arts at the community and national levels. (人妻少妇专区 photo / John Schlia)
IT鈥橲 CHO TIME: Comedian, actor, advocate, and author Margaret Cho performed to a full house in the Palestra. (人妻少妇专区 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Phoenix Zhang 鈥�23 of the Strong Jugglers, the University鈥檚 official student juggling club, sent fire props flying during an outdoor nighttime performance in Dandelion Square on the Wilson Quadrangle. (人妻少妇专区 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. (人妻少妇专区 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
鈥淭ODAY IS YOUR DAY鈥�: 人妻少妇专区 President Sarah Mangelsdorf welcomed more than 2,000 attendees鈥攊ncluding approximately 800 members of the University-wide graduating class鈥攖o Kodak Hall in Eastman Theatre. 鈥淲e are here to celebrate you,鈥� she said. 鈥淗aving come so far, you weren鈥檛 going to let anything鈥攅ven a global pandemic鈥攕top you from earning your degree.鈥� (人妻少妇专区 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
A LEAGUE OF HER OWN: Academy Award鈥搘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鈥檚 highest ideals. Afterward, during her commencement address, she told the graduates, 鈥淵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.鈥� (人妻少妇专区 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. 鈥淣ot only do we honor your academic achievement, we recognize your resilience and your perseverance,鈥� said President Mangelsdorf during the ceremony. (人妻少妇专区 photo / Adrian Kraus)
ECON CONVOS: This year鈥檚 Experience Rochester speakers鈥擭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)鈥攂rought their expertise to bear during a discussion about the global economic outlook after COVID-19. 鈥淚 think the recovery has, in many ways, gone surprisingly well,鈥� said Kocherlakota. 鈥淏ut we still have a long way to go on this.鈥� Smith emphasized what he sees as the United States鈥� key advantage during the recovery: 鈥淭here鈥檚 no place else on this planet that I can point to that has that degree of entrepreneurship going on.鈥� (人妻少妇专区 photo / John Smillie)
EVER BETTER SWEATER WEATHER: Clear skies and mild temperatures meant the festivities on and off campus continued well into Saturday evening. (人妻少妇专区 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
MELIORA GLOW UP: See you next year, Rochester. (人妻少妇专区 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
