MADISON BLASZ
Special to The Leader
As colleges across the country plan their spring graduation ceremonies, they are considering the best ways to make them resemble the traditions that were common pre-pandemic.
Most universities are taking a cautious approach by hosting a virtual commencement.
What exactly does a virtual commencement ceremony look like?
Well, Fredonia has an idea.
President Stephen Kolison said that the college’s upcoming virtual commencement will be streamed live, recorded, made into a production and will have some of the traditional on-campus graduation procedures.
Lylens Lubin, the senior class president, said, “The walks will be livestreamed, and will be edited into a full commencement ceremony video, which will also include addresses from the president and commencement speaker, readings from students and a musical performance.”
The virtual graduation ceremony will also be hybrid, which means students will be able to walk in person, but the rest will be virtual.
Seniors who are graduating this spring will be able to walk the stage if they sign up on YourConnection.
“The stage walk is where seniors will be addressed in the academic regalia. We will present the diploma cover and a gift from the university,” said Kolison.
After walking the stage, seniors have the opportunity to get professional photographs taken of them in their cap and gown.
Even though the deadline to sign up was March 29, seniors are still able to by contacting Raleigh Hawk, who is the commencement co-chair.
As of April 1, 475 students have signed up to walk across the stage, which is about 50 percent of the senior class.
“I want to encourage everybody to come to the main event. You all have worked so hard,” said Kolison.
The video will be released the morning of May 15, which was the originally scheduled commencement date.
Releasing the video then allows graduates and their families to watch the full commencement ceremony, including stage walks, together.
Dr. Kolison was clear that every college is dealing with a different set of circumstances surrounding graduation and talked about how seniors deserve the best commencement, and at Fredonia, they are working very hard to give them that.
“Different schools will say different things, and do different things, but I believe what we are doing here is the best for our campus. We are doing the math and making sure everything goes right. We are giving everything to give, so seniors have a memorable experience, and something they can watch all the time later on,” said Kolison.
When talking to Lubin about how he feels about a virtual ceremony, he said, “It is disappointing that we do not have an in-person ceremony, but in order to keep everyone safe, it is the smartest option. Everyone should be very proud of themselves for this amazing achievement.”
Kolison understands that many seniors are upset with the decision of having a virtual ceremony and not having family and friends attend.
“I empathize with the students who feel that they’ve been robbed of graduation, but the other thing I think that everyone should keep in mind is that sometimes in life, there can be disappointments. The trick is how to rise above the disappointment and look at the best option and move forward,” said Kolison.
To encourage optimism and a positive can-do attitude in the face of misfortune, students should remember, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”