Rice University conferred more than 2,900 degrees to its newest graduates — the most in the university’s history — during its 112th commencement weekend, held May 9–10. Over the course of four ceremonies, the university conferred undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees.
Undergraduate commencement took place at Rice Stadium Saturday night, while advanced degree, doctoral and MBA ceremonies were held at Tudor Fieldhouse.
Internationally acclaimed neurogeneticist Dr. Huda Zoghbi, founding director of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator and a distinguished service professor at Baylor College of Medicine, delivered the keynote address at the undergraduate ceremony. She inspired students with her groundbreaking work in brain research and commitment to scientific discovery.
“Ultimately, success is a team sport. We are all part of a great chain of learners, standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before us and passing the baton on to those who follow us," Zoghbi said. "As you reflect on your own paths, I am sure you can identify those who helped you get to this point. If there are fewer such people than you would like, then make it a goal to strengthen your relationships. Choose friends and loved ones who will help you become stronger in character, gentler in spirit, and truer to your best self.”
Rice President Reginald DesRoches encouraged the more than 1,300 undergraduates to embrace uncertainty and cultivate resilience, reminding them of the extraordinary circumstances they overcame by entering college during a global pandemic.
“Now you graduate at a moment that is filled with change, flux and complexity. The world you’re stepping into feels fast moving and unpredictable — socially, politically, economically and technologically," DesRoches said. "But here’s what I want you to know, Rice graduates: You are more ready than you realize. The uncertainties you faced at Rice didn’t break you — they shaped you into more adaptable, more resilient and more resourceful individuals.”
Rice’s undergraduate student population has grown 20% since 2020, now enrolling approximately 4,800 students. Last month, the university announced plans to expand further, aiming for approximately 5,200 undergraduates by 2028.
Broadcast-quality footage of the undergraduate commencement ceremony is available for media use here.
Download commencement photos here.
Rice’s graduate, doctoral and MBA commencement ceremonies can be viewed here.