Class of 2021 Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement

Iona College celebrates its 77th Annual Commencement with In-Person and Virtual Ceremonies

Commencement News, Academics News

On Saturday, May 22, Iona College held two socially distanced, in-person recognition ceremonies honoring the achievements of the Class of 2021. Students, families, faculty and friends gathered to celebrate the conclusion of the Class of 2021’s undergraduate and graduate programs as well as a successful yet unprecedented academic year for all. During these ceremonies, over 600 Gaels had the opportunity to proudly wear their academic regalia and have their name called in this special moment with family and friends. An official virtual Commencement ceremony was held on Sunday, May 23, which included student speeches, remarks from the President and Provost, student honors and faculty awards. More than 1,000 graduate and undergraduate degrees were conferred at the virtual Commencement ceremony.

Photo Gallery: In-Person Recognition Ceremonies

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Graduates walk down the aisle at the 2021 in-person recognition ceremony.
Four graduates hold their degrees and smile at the 2021 in-person recognition ceremony.
A student looks with confidence at the camera during the 2021 in-person recognition ceremony.
The Pipe band plays at the 2021 in-person recognition ceremony.
A graduate shakes hands with President Carey at the 2021 in-person recognition ceremony.
A student raises her hand in celebration while confetti comes down behind her.
A student walks with her diploma at the 2021 in-person recognition ceremony.
Students stand and applaud at the 2021 in-person recognition ceremony.
A graduate in a motorized chair in the procession at the 2021 in-person recognition ceremony.
Two drummers from the pipe band play at the 2021 in-person recognition ceremony.
A student celebrates with a fist bump with Carl at the 2021 in-person recognition ceremony.
A student raises his hand at the 2021 in-person recognition ceremony.

ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2024 national list of “The Best 389 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.