UCI Commencement Surprise

Graduate Christopher Swieca tears up at s the surprise commencement ceremony in his honor in the Chancellor's office at UCI on Tuesday. Swieca could not attend his commencement with his fellow water polo players due to an eye surgery.

Graduate Christopher Swieca tears up at s the surprise commencement ceremony in his honor in the Chancellor’s office at UCI on Tuesday. Swieca could not attend his commencement with his fellow water polo players due to an eye surgery.

  (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Family members are given tissues in case they cry during the surprise commencement ceremony for Chris Swieca on Tuesday.   ( Don Leach / Don Leach | Daily Pilot )

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Recent UCI grads Christopher Swieca, Larson Pfeil, Dylan Peterson, and Jared Osborn, left to right, sing the UCI mascot song in Chancellor Howard Gillman’s office during surprise commencement ceremony on Tuesday.   ( Don Leach / Don Leach | Daily Pilot )

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UCI graduate Christopher Swieca listens to comments during his surprise commencement ceremony on Tuesday. Swieca wears special glasses after his surgery.   ( Don Leach / Don Leach | Daily Pilot )

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UCI graduate Christopher Swieca, left, receives his diploma from Chancellor Howard Gillman during his surprise commencement ceremony on Tuesday.   ( Don Leach / Don Leach | Daily Pilot )

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Christopher Swieca, left, arrives to his surprise commencement ceremony with UCI teammates Jared Osborn, Larson Pfeil, Dylan Peterson, and coach Marc Hunt, in Chancellor Howard Gillman’s office on Tuesday.   ( Don Leach / Don Leach | Daily Pilot )

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UCI graduate Christopher Swieca, second from left, listens as “student speaker” and teammate Jared Osborn makes comments during his surprise commencement ceremony on Tuesday.   ( Don Leach / Don Leach | Daily Pilot )

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UCI graduate Christopher Swieca, left, gets a hug from his teammate Dylan Peterson during his surprise commencement ceremony on Tuesday.   ( Don Leach / Don Leach | Daily Pilot )

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Player Dylan Peterson holds a water polo ball showing the name of fellow player, Pablo Carballo, who could not be at the surprise commencement ceremony on Tuesday, but was represented by the ball.   ( Don Leach / Don Leach | Daily Pilot )

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Christopher Swieca’s grandmother Sandra Schrader, left, reads the letter that inspired the surprise commencement ceremony on Tuesday.   ( Don Leach / Don Leach | Daily Pilot )