A Resilient Class of 2022 Graduates From Georgetown

To the tune of an impromptu chant of “Hoya Saxa” at Senior Convocation, Georgetown kicked off nine ceremonies to celebrate the Class of 2022’s Commencement — the first graduation back on the Hilltop in three years.

From May 19-22, Georgetown graduated more than 7,000 graduate and undergraduate students on campus and, for the School of Medicine, in downtown Washington, DC.

“Members of the Georgetown Class of 2022, your moment is at hand. Congratulations!” Georgetown President John J. DeGoia said at Senior Convocation on May 19. “Hold onto your excitement and trust that you have developed the abilities and the self-knowledge that will sustain you as you move into your futures. Already, you have encountered and responded to great challenges and done so as a community — with care and support for one another.”

Nine of Georgetown’s schools graduated students at individual ceremonies. The commencement speakers included Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Special Olympics Chair Timothy Shriver, and social justice advocate Sr. Norma Pimental.

Sr. Norma Pimental (left) spoke at the School of Nursing & Health Studies Commencement, Timothy Shriver (center) at Georgetown College’s Commencement, and Antony Blinken (right) at the Walsh School of Foreign Service Commencement.

“Know that you will get lost and that the losses and setbacks may well outnumber the wins,” Blinken said during the Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) Commencement on Saturday, May 21. “And as you stick with it, you’ll find that even the smallest steps forward will do more than sustain you. They will fulfill you. They will help shape this world for the better. So Class of 2022, we welcome you with open arms to the ranks of the doers. And we can’t wait to see all that you will get done.”

A Resilient Class of 2022

The ceremonies recognized the resiliency of the Class of 2022, a class of Fulbright scholars, Rhodes finalists, veterans, first-generation college students, students who represented more than 50 nations, many of whom spent time away from the Hilltop during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This class in front of us has persevered through unprecedented challenges,” Georgetown Provost Robert M. Groves said at Senior Convocation. “Many of the events we jointly experienced were tragedies. But you, this special class, persevered through it all. You have honored this university by your resilience that has led to your accomplishments that we collectively applaud today.”

Georgetown students gather in front of the "Hoya Saxa" sign on Healy Lawn

Senior Convocation

On Thursday, May 19, undergraduates from SFS, Georgetown College, the School of Nursing & Health Studies, the McDonough School of Business and the School of Continuing Studies processed into Healy Lawn, the place where they began their Georgetown career at New Student Convocation four years earlier.

“This event is a bookend for that first convocation,” Groves said. “Despite what you may have thought four years ago, you did it. You did it!”

From left to right: Ashanee Kottage (SFS’22) speaks at Georgetown’s Senior Convocation and students process into convocation on May 19.

The 1,692 undergraduates, who collectively completed nearly 200,000 credit hours, hailed from 49 states and represented 56 nations. Provost Groves welcomed the graduating seniors, their friends and family and Georgetown faculty, staff and alumni to the annual event that begins Commencement weekend.

Alumni Luke Schoenfelder (C’12), the founder of Latch, a start-up that offers software systems for apartment buildings, a Marshall Scholar, a member of the McCourt School’s advisory board, and the speaker at his own Senior Convocation, served as the keynote speaker.

Seniors Ashanee Kottage (SFS’22), a Rhodes finalist and a science, technology and international affairs major from Sri Lanka who plans to work as a research analyst for the Earth Commons Institute and the Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics at Georgetown; and Jordan Kramer (C’22), a Goldwater Scholar and biology major from Texas who will be pursuing her doctorate in pediatrics at the University of Oxford, both spoke at the convocation.

Meet the Class of 2022

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Meet the Class of 2022

“I think the best part about my Georgetown education is that we’re taught to be people first and lawyers second. Even as we’re applying existing law and manipulating doctrine, we’re supposed to be doing it for the benefit of everybody, hoping to serve a purpose that’s greater than ourselves. I’m hoping I can take that legacy and apply it to myself and do my part.”

Obinna Iloani (L’22), who is a Tech Law Scholar, will be working at the Office of the Attorney General in Austin, Texas.

“My Georgetown experience has been transformative and helped me learn so much about myself that I didn’t expect. The faculty and staff at Georgetown have supported me exploring all of my interests, but, most importantly to me, they have helped me learn what makes me feel alive!”

Matthew Youngong Hua (C’22), who double majored in government and American musical culture and minored in Spanish

“As Hoyas we can never be too proud, because there’s always more to unlearn, undo, heal and grow. We can never be too tired, because there’s always another dream to chase, a skill to learn, but crucially, a community to serve.”

Ashanee Kottage (SFS’22), in her speech as a student speaker at Senior Convocation

“It’s unreal. I’m super proud of my classmates and overwhelmed with joy and really excited for the next phase for all of us.”

Sonia Francone (M’22), who will be pursuing her residency in ophthalmology at MedStar Georgetown/MedStar Washington Hospital Center

“As an NHS grad I feel very prepared to handle the next challenges. I’m excited yet nervous for what’s to come, but I know I have my training to fall back on.”

Hannah Joyce (NHS‘22) , left, who will be pursuing her masters in public health at Columbia University this fall, pictured with fellow classmate Jen-Yuan Christine Kao

“When we take the time to learn from our failures and to embrace the chaos that surrounds us, we create a space for creativity and for innovation. The structures that we build will inevitably fall apart, and in turn, we get the chance to build newer and better systems. When we let go of our fear of failure and of chaos, we can dare to imagine the world as we want to see it.”

Jordan Kramer (C’22), in her speech as a student speaker at Senior Convocation

Fellowship and Scholarship Winners

The Class of 2022 won many competitive fellowships during their years at Georgetown, including:

23 Fulbright Scholarships
1 Goldwater Scholarship
2 Marshall Scholarship Finalists
2 Pickering Fellowships
1 Presidential Fellowship
3 Rhodes Scholarship Finalists
1 Schwarzman Scholarship
3 Truman Finalists
1 Big East Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium Awardee

The Class of 2022 By the Numbers

An image of the School of Business graduation at Georgetown. — Graduates from the McDonough School of Business celebrate their Commencement on May 20.

The following schools welcomed graduating students to join the community of 200,000+ Georgetown alumni:

The McCourt School of Public Policy graduated 235 students during its May 19 commencement ceremony, with 103 students who earned their masters in public policy; 87 their masters in public management; 12 their masters in international development policy; 19 their master of science in data science for public policy; and 14 who received degrees from the Executive Master in Policy Leadership program.
At Graduate School Commencement on May 20, the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences bestowed degrees to 461 graduate students, including 87 doctoral degrees and 374 master of arts and master of science degrees. During the ceremony, 638 students also received degrees from the Biomedical Graduate Education at Georgetown, including 23 doctor of philosophy degrees; 606 master of science and master of arts degrees; and nine who received degrees from the Executive Master’s in Clinical Quality, Safety & Leadership program.
More than 1,100 students graduated from the McDonough School of Business on May 20, including 330 undergraduates and 776 graduate students – the latter of whom received 386 MBAs, 89 executive master’s of business administration and executive master’s in leadership, and 301 students who received their master of science and master of arts degrees.
Students at Georgetown’s Commencement 2022.
The School of Continuing Studies graduated the largest number of students – 1,622 – with 1,562 master of professional studies degrees, 27 executive master of professional studies degrees, 23 master of arts in liberal studies degrees, 10 doctor of liberal studies degrees and 22 bachelor of arts in liberal studies degrees, during its May 20 commencement.
On May 21, 859 students graduated from Georgetown College, with 679 bachelor of arts degrees and 180 bachelor of science degrees.
The School of Nursing & Health Studies bestowed 427 degrees, including 113 bachelor of science degrees; 247 master of science degrees; and 44 doctoral degrees, at its May 21 commencement ceremony.
On Saturday, May 21, the Walsh School of Foreign Service graduated 1,370 students, awarding 386 bachelor’s degrees and 509 master’s degrees to students.
A total of 196 students graduated with their M.D. from the School of Medicine during Sunday morning commencement, including five students who earned dual degrees in M.D./MBA.
At the final ceremony of the weekend, Georgetown Law graduated 1,374 students. More than 660 students earned their J.D., 702 their master of laws, and four their doctor of juridical science.
Georgetown University in Qatar, which held its 14th commencement ceremony on May 12, graduated 87 students.