The U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduated 240 ensigns at Cadet Memorial Field on Wednesday in a commencement ceremony that included an address from President Joe Biden and marked more of a return to normalcy, after last year's ceremony went virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Graduates were only allowed three guests each, but they were able to sit maskless in the bleachers on the sunny, 79-degree day. Among the 240 graduates, 33% are women and 35% are minority students, with seven students coming from other countries: Georgia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. In his speech, Biden said we "need to see more women at the highest levels of command." Twelve students were high school valedictorians, and 91% of graduates have earned a varsity letter.