Friends and Family Gather to Celebrate DigiPen’s 2019 Commencement Ceremony

From the opening processional to the triumphant tossing of black graduation caps, there was plenty of applause and laughter to be heard amidst the Lynnwood Convention Center as we celebrated the April 28 DigiPen Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2019. In between and throughout the event, we also heard from a number of distinguished guests and speakers, as well as enjoyed the music of the DigiPen Vocal Ensemble and DigiPen Jazz Ensemble.

In addition to the full house that was in attendance, we also welcomed a remote audience who watched the event via our first-ever livestream broadcast. You can watch the entirety of the DigiPen Commencement ceremony below.

Claude Comair, DigiPen’s president and founder, welcomed the soon-to-be graduates with an inspiring message, encouraging them to always strive for honesty, humility, thoughtfulness, and gratefulness to those who paved the way for their own success.

“About 30 years ago, I made a pledge to myself. And I made the pledge later on, a few years later, to the first graduating class, telling them that DigiPen will not go backward. It will always go forward. Every time you come and visit us, you will see it better,” Comair said. “We are successful, because the graduates are successful. We learn from them, we learn from you, you learn from us.”

Other presenters included Patti Dobrowolski, author and founder of Up Your Creative Genius, who delivered the 2019 Commencement address, as well as two nominated student speakers, Christopher Onorati (BA in Game Design) and Benjamin Albertson-Gass (BS in Computer Science). Albertson-Gass even sported a championship-style wrestling belt with a custom-engraved DigiPen Dragon mascot logo — a fitting visual metaphor for the accomplishments of the entire graduating class.

“I can tell you firsthand that my peers are some of the most absurdly dedicated and hardworking people I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing,” Albertson-Gass said.

Many thanks to all of the students, faculty, family, and friends who joined us, and congratulations to each of the 221 graduating students who walked on stage to receive their hard-earned degree!