GW’s school-wide Commencement ceremony typically draws thousands of students, friends and family to the National Mall.

But amid the COVID-19 pandemic, officials instead held a virtual Commencement celebration for the Class of 2020 Sunday and invited all graduates to a ceremony on the National Mall in May 2021. Despite the canceled in-person event, some students still celebrated on the Mall on their graduation day.

Take a look at the day in photos:

[gwh_image id=”1120331″ credit=”Eric Lee | Staff Photographer” align=”none” size=”embedded-img”]Lydia Deaton (center) puts on lipstick before graduation photos at the Lincoln Memorial.[/gwh_image]

[gwh_image id=”1120337″ credit=”Eric Lee | Staff Photographer” align=”none” size=”embedded-img”]Katie Yensen, a graduate of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, poses for a portrait in front of the Reflecting Pool.[/gwh_image]

[gwh_image id=”1120330″ credit=”Eric Lee | Staff Photographer” align=”none” size=”embedded-img”]Jan Foreman, a graduate from the Elliott School of International Affairs, poses for a portrait at the Lincoln Memorial.[/gwh_image]

[gwh_image id=”1120333″ credit=”Eric Lee | Staff Photographer” align=”none” size=”embedded-img”]Eve Wellish poses for her sister, Hannah Wellish, for graduation photos at the Lincoln Memorial.[/gwh_image]

[gwh_image id=”1120334″ credit=”Zach Brien | Staff Photographer” align=”none” size=”embedded-img”]All Lapps photographs Lars Linland in his graduation attire near the Washington Monument. Graduation ceremonies across the country have been canceled or moved online because of COVID-19.[/gwh_image]

[gwh_image id=”1120336″ credit=”Eric Lee | Staff Photographer” align=”none” size=”embedded-img”]From left to right: Lydia Deaton, Stavors Couvaras, McKenzie Swain and Gina Kang pose for a group photo after watching the University’s Commencement ceremony online at the Lincoln Memorial.[/gwh_image]

[gwh_image id=”1120338″ credit=”Zach Brien | Staff Photographer” size=”embedded-img” align=”none”]Robert Dickson takes a photograph of graduate Matthew Wiggins at the Lincoln Memorial.[/gwh_image]

[gwh_image id=”1120341″ credit=”Eric Lee | Staff Photographer” align=”none” size=”embedded-img”]Elisabeth Vogel, a graduate from the Milken Institute School of Public Health, poses for a portrait at the Lincoln Memorial.[/gwh_image]

[gwh_image id=”1120339″ credit=”Eric Lee | Staff Photographer” align=”none” size=”embedded-img”]Raphael Marjensberg, a graduate from the Elliott School of International Affairs, poses for a portrait at the Lincoln Memorial.[/gwh_image]