Updated: August 18, 2020 at 4:58 p.m.

Thousands of graduates gathered on the National Mall for University-wide Commencement Saturday morning. As expected, their degrees were conferred and they got bits of advice from University President Steven Knapp and a fellow graduate and keynote speaker Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook. But there were a few surprising moments, too.

Here are some of the most unexpected moments of Commencement:

1. Honorary degree recipient uses heimlich

Knapp introduced honorary degree recipient, Anthony Fauci, a world-renowned HIV/AIDS researcher and expert on infectious disease. Knapp listed a long string of Fauci’s accomplishments, like receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008 and serving as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health.

But Knapp said Fauci’s latest accomplishment was saving a life Saturday night at the annual Commencement dinner with administrators, trustees and guests.

“Last night your medical expertise was in full evidence at the annual Commencement dinner where you saved a life by skillfully deploying the Heimlich maneuver. It’s true,” Knapp said.

2. Swap your phone

Tim Cook opened his address with a simple reminder for graduates and guests: Silence your cell phones.

For members of the 20,000-person crowd who do not have an iPhone, Cook had a surprising suggestion.

“If you don’t have an iPhone, please pass it to the center aisle. Apple has a world-class recycling program,” Cook said.

3. Graduates react with emoji

When Cook took the stage, four graduates raised posters with fist emoji. Each poster had one emoji of a different skin tone.

Apple updated the emoji application last month offering several skin tones instead of the traditional yellow option.

4. Cook captures the moment

During his speech, Cook boasted about the iPhone’s ability to capture any moment, because people are always able to snap a photo with a camera in their pockets. Before finishing his speech, Cook took a photo on his iPhone of the Class of 2015. Several graduates posted selfies with Cook after the ceremony.

“I’d like to take one photo of you, because this is the best view in the world,” Cook said.

Like this photo? Find your own personal photo from the ceremony at: www.hatchetphotos.com