Photo gallery Photo gallery – Commencement 2019

1 Keynote speaker J.J. Watt, left, enjoys breakfast Saturday morning at Mickies Dairy Bar with Chancellor Rebecca Blank (opposite Watt), Athletic Director Barry Alvarez (right) and Deputy Athletic Director Chris MacIntosh (opposite Alvarez). Photo by: Jeff Miller

2 Graduates use their mortarboards to express their feelings... Photo by: Jeff Miller

3 look forward to new challenges ahead... Photo by: Jeff Miller

4 thank family and friends... Photo by: Bryce Richter

5 show off their artistry... Photo by: Bryce Richter

6 and put in a plug to future employers. Photo by: Jeff Miller

7 Soon-to-be-graduate Rachel Crews wears a pair of pink Ugg slides as family members make pictures of the her outside Camp Randall Stadium. Photo by: Jeff Miller

8 Graduation Bucky traveled to Camp Randall to be ready for photos with students. Photo by: Jeff Miller

9 Evan Lallensack (left), receiving his bachelor's in materials science, gets a kiss from his girlfriend before the ceremony. Photo by: Bryce Richter

10 Jeff and Judy Brozynski photograph their son, Danny, with Graduation Bucky. Photo by: Jeff Miller

11 Soon-to-be-graduates pose for a photo. Photo by: Jeff Miller

12 Graduating members of the women's hockey team brought some bling to the ceremony: the NCAA National Championship trophy they recently won. From left: Annie Pankowski, Sophia Shaver, Mikaela Gardner, Emily Clark and Maddie Rolfes. Photo by: Bryce Richter

13 Students enter the stadium dancing to the song "We Are Family" before the start of Saturday's ceremony. Photo by: Jeff Miller

14 Members of the UW MadHatters lead the crowd in a rousing rendition of "Sweet Caroline." Photo by: Bryce Richter

15 "You should have as big dreams as you want in this world," speaker J.J. Watt told the graduates. "I once had a teacher tell me that my dream of being in the NFL was unrealistic. Well, hello." Photo by: Bryce Richter

16 Brittany Neal (left), receiving her master's degree in social work, video chats with family during the ceremony. Photo by: Bryce Richter

17 A crowd of 45,300 turned out for Saturday's ceremony. Photo by: Jeff Miller

18 Dengsheng Chen, earning a master's degree in economics, holds a plush Bucky Badger. Photo by: Jeff Miller

19 Kylie Jackson, left, receiving her bachelor's in rehabilitation psychology, celebrates with Anisa Yudawanti, receiving her bachelor's degree in education studies. Photo by: Bryce Richter

20 School of Nursing graduates MacKenzie Femrite, left, and Lauren Wilmet move their tassels to the right side of their mortarboards to mark that they've graduated. Photo by: Jeff Miller

21 Chancellor Blank and J.J. Watt lead the procession out of the stadium following the ceremony. Photo by: Jeff Miller

22 Juju Dessert, a UW Marching Band member graduating with a bachelor's in entomology, borrows a friend's trombone to play "Swingtown" one more time with her band mates following the ceremony. Photo by: Jeff Miller

23 A guest carries an assortment of congratulatory balloons and flowers before Friday's commencement ceremony at the Kohl Center. Photo by: Jeff Miller

24 Suriya Xiong (right) and Phoua Yang (left), both receiving their doctoral degrees in pharmacy, display personalized graduation caps celebrating their Hmong heritage during Friday's ceremony at the Kohl Center. Photo by: Jeff Miller

25 Tanvi Thakkar (left), earning a Ph.D. in communication sciences and disorders, receives a congratulatory hug from Ruth Litovsky, professor in communication sciences and disorders. Photo by: Jeff Miller

26 Steve Miller, lead guitarist and vocalist of the Steve Miller Band, receives his honorary degree from Chancellor Rebecca Blank. Photo by: Jeff Miller

27 Brock receives an honorary doctorate for his accomplishments in science and conservation. Photo by: Jeff Miller

28 The ceremony marked the 150th anniversary of women earning the first bachelor's degrees at UW. Photo by: Jeff Miller

29 Saturday's keynote speaker, J.J. Watt, surprised graduating student athletes by dropping in on a Friday reception in their honor. David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletics