The University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University hosted commencement ceremonies for fall 2015 graduates. Thousands of students received their bachelor’s, master’s, or doctor’s degrees on Friday and Saturday.

Above, Ladun Olagbegi, center, raises her hand to her mother while talking to her on the phone Saturday. Ms. Olagbegi was trying to let her know where she was sitting in University of Toledo’s Savage Arena.

At left, graduate Ellie Lucarino of Bedford, Ohio, holds up her diploma during Bowling Green’s ceremony at Stroh Center on Saturday. 

Ten of the graduates at BGSU were on the football team and left after ceremonies Friday and Saturday for Mobile, Ala., to play in the GoDaddy Bowl.

At UT, CNN anchor Christi Paul, a University of Toledo alumna, gave the commencement address. Ms. Paul, originally from Bellevue, Ohio, is a weekend anchor for the CNN’s New Day and also reports on the Daily Share on HLN.

BGSU had two commencement ceremonies, one on Friday and the other on Saturday. Alumnus Emanuele Conti, an operating partner for Providence, a premiere global asset management firm, spoke on Friday.

During the Saturday service, the speaker was Dr. Howard Aldrich, an alumnus who is a professor at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Photo gallery: Bowling Green State University Fall Commencement

Photo gallery: University of Toledo Fall Commencement

First Published December 20, 2015, 5:00 a.m.