University of Cincinnati seniors are getting ready for a big day Friday. The university is holding its first in-person commencement ceremony since the pandemic started.Thousands of Bearcats will fill Nippert Stadium in their caps and gowns eager to end one chapter and start another. "I know that future me is going to be very grateful when I'm looking back on these memories,” said Brittany Collier, University of Cincinnati graduate. The University of Cincinnati will recognize its largest graduating class, with 6,866 students earning degrees from communications to engineering, medicine, science and more. Nearly 16% of the graduates are first-generation college students. Each graduate is allowed to bring two guests. Safety protocols will be followed, everyone is required to wear masks, sit in assigned seating and maintain a 6-foot distance. WLWT News 5 spoke to graduates, who say this year was unlike any other. Together University of Cincinnati students, family and friends will celebrate a huge milestone. “Students have learned not to take these things for granted and we all recognize the seriousness of this event and the magnitude and the risk they are taking in terms of COVID,” said Logan Lindsay, University of Cincinnati Graduate. Ceremonies will take place at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium:Friday at 2 p.m., UC will recognize:College of Allied Health SciencesLindner College of BusinessCollege of Engineering and Applied ScienceCollege of MedicineWinkle College of PharmacyUC Blue Ash CollegeUC Clermont CollegeFriday at 6 p.m., UC will recognize:College of Arts and Sciences College-Conservatory of MusicCollege of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human ServicesCollege of Design, Architecture, Art, and PlanningCollege of Nursing