More than 20,000 students, family members, friends, faculty, and staff gathered in TD Garden to celebrate the graduating class.

Steven Earl (left) from Westwood was pinned by Taylor Dickman of Buffalo, N.Y.

The joyous day was not without solemn reflection on recent events. Governor Deval Patrick and Northeastern President Joseph E. Aoun recognized the first responders and ordinary citizens who helped at the finish line after the Marathon bombings.

Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis received an honorary doctorate in public service on behalf of those first responders and the law enforcement officials who took action in the wake of the blasts.

Other recipients of honorary degrees included Nikesh Arora, senior vice president and chief business officer at Google, and Barbara Lynch, CEO of Barbara Lynch Gruppo.