# Photo Essay: Celebrating 2024 Commencement May 31, 2024 ![HDS students and faculty on the steps of the Swartz Hall](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hds2/files/photo-essay-news-thumb-900.jpg?itok=lAY1oG7y) Following the Multireligious Commencement Service on May 22, HDS students and faculty gathered on the steps of Swartz Hall for their 2024 class photo. / Photo: Justin Knight *"As you become alumni of HDS, I ask that you take the School's vision, its mission, and the responsibilities of upholding such aspirations with you wherever your journey may lead.* *"Harvard Divinity School Class of 2024, we need you. We need religious leaders to help us navigate sorrow and celebrate life's greatest joys."—HDS Dean Marla F. Frederick* Harvard Divinity School celebrated the Class of 2024 during the [Multireligious Commencement Service](https://youtu.be/F-siCsJzV0A?si=m3NGkTGpVb2VT6-k) on May 22 and the [Diploma Awarding Ceremony](https://youtu.be/q-wX6SiiX9A?si=WHOIq8i7Ittu-dex) on May 23. Below is a selection of photos featuring our new graduates with their student colleagues, HDS faculty, proud family members and friends, staff, and alumni. For more pictures of 2024 Commencement, please visit [HDS on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/harvarddivinity/). ![Graduates make their way into the tent](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/hds2/files/procession-multireligious-commencement-750.jpg?itok=2IwEqfao) Graduates make their way into the tent on the Campus Green before the festive Multireligious Commencement Service. / Photo: Justin Knight ![The HDS Justice and Music Collective](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/hds2/files/hds-band-commencement-inline.jpg?itok=oAslpAp0) The HDS Justice and Music Collective jammed together, singing and opening the Multireligious Commencement Service with their rendition of “This Little Light of Mine.” / Photo: Justin Knight ![Amin Qureshi, MTS '24](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/hds2/files/amin-qureshi-commencement-inline.jpg?itok=_36Q6L0G) As a part of the Multireligious Commencement Service, graduating students were invited to share part of a religious text or arrangement that showcases their faith or practice. Here, Rajeev Persaud MTS '24, recited "Siddha Chaupaiyan" from the *Rāmacaritamānas*. / Photo: Justin Knight ![Francesca Robinson, MDiv '24, and Eve Woldemikel, MDiv candidate](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/hds2/files/two-singers-commencement-inline.jpg?itok=hvAZurOs) Francesca Robinson, MDiv '24, and Eve Woldemikael, MDiv candidate, led a powerful singing meditation of Molly Bajot’s “Change Is Coming.” Alongside the HDS Commencement choir and band, their voices were a testament to the transformative power of community imagination. / Photo: Justin Knight ![Twyla Barkakoty, MDiv ‘24](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/hds2/files/twyla-barkakoty-commencement-inline.jpg?itok=A9IiH29m) From the Assamese tradition, Twyla Barkakoty, MDiv ‘24, performed a Bihu dance, “Sotote Sokori X Boxontor Janoni,” choreographed by Lakhinandan Lahon. / Photo: Justin Knight ![Dean Marla Frederick](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/hds2/files/frederick-commencement-inline.jpg?itok=_ZtKd6MZ) HDS Dean Marla F. Frederick [delivered the faculty address](https://hds.harvard.edu/news/2024/05/23/marla-frederick-multireligious-commencement-service-magnify-each-others-light) during the Multifaith Commencement Service. She spoke about her family and how her experiences with grief, hard work, and joy have informed her time as Dean of Harvard Divinity School. She concluded with a call for love to guide our work and to never to stop believing we can create a better world. / Photo: Caroline Cataldo ![Auds Hope Jenkins, MDiv '24](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/hds2/files/auds-commencement-inline.jpg?itok=t2txQqg1) Auds Hope Jenkins, MDiv '24, was the class speaker at the Diploma Awarding Ceremony on May 23. [Jenkins' address](https://hds.harvard.edu/news/2024/05/24/auds-jenkins-student-speaker-walking-sacred-anointed-path) began with the poem, "If I Must Die," by Refaat Alareer, and concluded with a call for graduates to stand in their truth, united with the force of their love. / Photo: Justin Knight ![Samirah Jaigirdar, MTS ‘24](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/hds2/files/samirah-jaigirdar-commencement-inline.jpg?itok=rwe_O9L5) During the Diploma Awarding Ceremony, HDS Dean Marla F. Frederick hands Samirah Jaigirdar, MTS ‘24, her diploma. / Photo: Caroline Cataldo *—by Maddison Tenney, HDS communications editorial assistant* See also:- [ Commencement ](/topic-tags/commencement) - [ Commencement 2024 ](/topic-tags/commencement-2024)