Harvard’s 374th Commencement Ends

Harvard 374th Commencement concluded at 12:11 pm as the bells of the Memorial Church began ringing across Tercentrary Theatre.

Pusey Minister Matthew Ichihashi Potts delivered the closing benediction, warning that while there will be a “range of threats and dangers” beyond Harvard Yard, the new graduates had the ability to do good in the world.

“We’ve seen what you can do,” Potts said. “Now go and do it.”

Potts blessed the graduates that he reminisced had been through “strife and grief and estrangement and uncertainty and upheaval."

“If Harvard accomplishes good for the world, it’s because you do,” he said. “If Harvard is great, it’s because you are.”

The Middlesex County sheriff once again took the stage — this time to declare the meeting adjourned — and banged his gavel three times as the church bells tolled in the background.

—Staff writer Dhruv T. Patel can be reached at dhruv.patel@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @dhruvtkpatel.

—Staff writer Grace E. Yoon can be reached at grace.yoon@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @graceunkyoon.