University of Missouri new graduates experience first traditional graduation ceremonies

COLUMBIA, MO. (KMIZ)

For some University of Missouri 2024 graduates, the ceremonies held by the university marks their first traditional graduations.

The class of 2024 was a part of the high school graduating class of 2020, whose ending to the school year was altered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to data from Education Week, roughly 55.1 million students in 124,000 public and private schools across the United States closed their schools between March 6, 2020 through May 15, 2020.

Most states in the nation recommended either ordered, or recommended closing for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, according to Education Week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also estimates 16,890 schools experienced 19,273 school closures between July 27, 2020 through June 30, 2021. This resulted in the loss of 159 million in-person school days.

Due to the rising cases of COVID-19, the CDC recommended people social distance, stick to small gatherings and wear masks. Part of those recommendations didn't allow formal graduation ceremonies to take place for many high schools across the nation.

Emily Staples went to high school in Orlando, Florida where her school district moved ceremonies to a virtual setting. In 2024, Staples was finally able to get the celebration she had hoped for in 2020, joined alongside her parents and two uncles as she received a bachelors in health science from MU.

Though 2020 was a disappointing ending to the year, Staples said it created more excitement this time around.

"I mean, it was sad...I understood why it happened, I live in a big city so you know that was kinda gut wrenching you know, my senior year was taken from me," Staples said. "But I’m excited to have come here and get to have a formal ceremony tonight.”

Staples also said she plans to make the 16-hour drive back to Orlando Sunday morning, followed by a graduation party in the coming weeks and a trip to Nashville with friends to celebrate.

MU graduate Olga Dudko also experienced an unconventional graduation ceremony in 2020.

Dudko said her graduation was held in July, and felt rushed. She said the school only allowed close family members to come. On graduation day this year, Dudko stood outside of Jesse Hall with family members taking pictures, and said being able to celebrate with larger groups of family this time around meant everything.

"It was like you know, you go through 12 years of school and then it’s like okay well we’re going to take a three month break and then you’re only getting recognized for about 30 minutes," Dudko said. "Now, you’re able to be with like all the people that you actually love and get together with.”

The University stated more than 5,200 students were expected to graduate over the weekend, an increase from the number of spring graduates in 2023.