![Sophia Bautista, 22, graduating with a degree in Political Science and Labor Studies is on crutches](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/71ebeb0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3928x2618+36+0/resize/2000x1333!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F88%2F3f%2Fc77af1804efd8d11e863f74a2ebd%2Fla-photos-1staff-790493-la-me-ucla-graduation-8-als.jpg)
Sophia Bautista, graduating with a degree in political science and labor studies, needs crutches after she broke her foot while skateboarding only days before her UCLA graduation.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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After being off campus the entire academic year, UCLA’s class of 2021 got the rare chance to return — for graduation.
Although they had to have specific time slots, graduates got to walk through Drake Stadium with their names announced and image shown on a monitor, as part of a “Graduation Celebration.”
More than 9,000 students over six days are expected to participate. Some 14,000 undergraduates and graduate students are expected to receive their degrees from UCLA this year.
![Mother, Sukjoung Kwak and Father, Heesoon Kwak take photos of their daughter Ashley Ku, 23](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/57a8318/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2658+0+0/resize/2000x1329!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F32%2Fdd%2F22c1b6d143a381d69c9730724348%2Fla-photos-1staff-790493-la-me-ucla-graduation-3-als.jpg)
Heesoon Kwak, right, and Suk Young Joung take photos of their daughter, Ashley Ku, wearing a hanbok, a traditional Korean celebratory dress, under her graduation robe.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
![Graduating with a degree in Communication Studies and Business/Economics, Maddie Park gives a thumbs up](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7fb7eec/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2720+0+0/resize/2000x1360!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fae%2F77%2F8d1d4b6341a89147eaa0ccfd56e4%2Fla-photos-1staff-790493-la-me-ucla-graduation-13-als.jpg)
Graduating with a degree in communication studies, and business and economics, Maddie Park gives a thumbs up to her parents, Richard and Stephanie Park.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
![Ziyan Wu, Yuying Wang, Ziqing Jiang and Mingze Li, left to right, hold their fingers together to form a heart](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/692b237/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2624+0+0/resize/2000x1312!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd6%2Fe0%2F988c53284ee28e3afc52c816f48f%2Fla-photos-1staff-790493-la-me-ucla-graduation-10-als.jpg)
Ziyan Wu, left, Yuying Wang, Ziqing Jiang and Mingze Li hold their fingers together to form a heart for photographs at the UCLA graduation.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
![Kimberly Sanchez, 22, poses for photos holding her 6-month-old baby Alessandra Burnashkin](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d579c30/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2588+0+0/resize/2000x1294!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F48%2F56%2Fce0399f045a899eae7832afdb704%2Fla-photos-1staff-790493-la-me-ucla-graduation-7-als.jpg)
Kimberly Sanchez poses with her 6-month-old, Alessandra Burnashkin, while graduating with a degree in physiological science.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
![Paywand Baghal, graduating with a degree in Dance and Biology hugs his parents](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8d44088/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2737+0+0/resize/2000x1369!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa5%2F6a%2F4495897242218ea6cf7334f21942%2Fla-photos-1staff-790493-la-me-ucla-graduation-11-als.jpg)
Paywand Baghal, graduating with a degree in dance and biology, hugs his parents, Abdolvahab Baghal, right, and Ommekolson Mobasheri, after he walked the stage.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
![Yuying Wang, left, takes a selfie with Ziyan Wu as graduating UCLA students.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1ae2fd8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2641+0+0/resize/2000x1321!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F32%2Fe1%2F4511ad1f41b3a7d06d1ff2e44b61%2Fla-photos-1staff-790493-la-me-ucla-graduation-9-als.jpg)
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
![Graduating with a degree in biology and Chicana/o Studies, Jennifer Bribiesca waves to her family.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ec7f302/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2467+0+0/resize/2000x1234!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2F21%2F0cd7233d4df98fdf7da699504420%2Fla-photos-1staff-790493-la-me-ucla-graduation-15-als.jpg)
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
![Graduating with a degree in Communication Studies and Business/Economics, Maddie Park waves](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4a0f9b5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2455+0+0/resize/2000x1228!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F54%2F04%2F7e3fb2c848e8b924485d9630d96e%2Fla-photos-1staff-790493-la-me-ucla-graduation-12-als.jpg)
Maddie Park waves to her parents, Richard and Stephanie Park.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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