On May 27 at Homewood Field, Johns Hopkins University awarded diplomas to the Class of 2010. (New this year: one massive ceremony conferring degrees on undergraduates and graduates from all the university’s divisions and campuses, in keeping with President Ron Daniels’ “one university” theme.) Hopkins is renowned for its heavy workload, high academic standards, and rigorous classes. Of course, sandwiched between final exams and The Rest of Your Life, Commencement has its own rigors.

Illustrations by Wally Neibart