LOCAL

Roll tide! Class of 2021 celebrates graduation at the University of Alabama

Staff report

The University of Alabama's 2021 spring graduating class includes 636 first-generation college students, as well as notable athletes such as Miami Dolphins' quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and former NBA star Robert Horry.

UA held 10 commencement ceremonies spread over Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Coleman Coliseum. The staggered ceremonies were part of an effort to ensure social distancing, along with other COVID-19 precautions like mandatory mask-wearing.

A total of 6,158 degrees were set to be conferred this weekend, according to UA's commencement website.

Allison Claire Cohen enjoys her pending graduation. The University of Alabama will send more than 6,000 graduates across the stage in 10 graduation ceremonies this weekend. The College of Communication and Information Services was the first school to graduate Friday, April 30, 2021. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

That total includes 4,747 students who earned undergraduate degrees, while 1,300 earned master's degrees and 111 earned doctoral degrees.

The class of 2021 graduates came from 30 nations spanning the globe. Forty-nine of the 50 United States  were represented in the pool of graduates, with Wyoming being the only state not represented. Graduates came from 61 of Alabama's 67 counties. 

The class had a 3.467 grade-point average, with 562 students having multiple majors.

Friday's commencement featured the School of Communication and Information Sciences, the School of Social Work and the College of Engineering.

The College of Arts and Sciences conferred degrees in two Saturday ceremonies followed by the College of Education and the College of Nursing on Saturday afternoon. Saturday commencements wrapped up with the ceremony for the College of Human Environmental Sciences and the College of Community Health Sciences.

The University of Alabama will send more than 6,000 graduates across the stage in 10 graduation ceremonies this weekend. The College of Communication and Information Services was the first school to graduate Friday, April 30, 2021. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

The Culverhouse College of Business graduates were set to receive their degrees in three Sunday ceremonies and spring commencement was scheduled to conclude  with the School of Law ceremony Sunday night.