Pandemic friendly graduation ceremonies held for the Mizzou class of 2020 graduates

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The University of Missouri held five different graduation ceremonies Saturday to safely celebrate the class of 2020 one year later.

Five ceremonies were held with a total of 1,500 students attending out of about 2,000 2020 graduates:

• 8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
• 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
• 5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Sunday for Graduate and Professional Degrees)

Vice Provost of Undergraduate Studies, Jim Spain, spoke throughout the event to congratulate the class of 2020 and "welcome them home."

MU spokeswoman, Sara Diedrich, said, "We now really understood how to put on an event like this while following the show-me-renewal guidelines."

Diedrich said each graduate had six tickets to give to family and friends for the event. "Those six people were seated together in pods which were socially distanced from other groups," said Diedrich.

"That's why we split is up into five different events so that there would be a small number of people at each event but still would give graduates an opportunity to invite friends and family," said Diedrich. Graduates were also socially distanced and masks were required during the event.

December 2020 graduate, Derik Russell, said the event was socially distanced and the university did a good job of keeping everyone safe. Russell also said it was important to be able to have an in-person ceremony to celebrate.

"They did the virtual ceremony for us which was awesome to be able to celebrate on the day, but there's a special feeling to be able to come and actually walk across the stage to receive your diploma," said Russell.

May 2020 graduate, Sarah Hallam was happy the event was possible and she could spend it with her loved ones. "I live pretty far away, I'm from Maryland. Getting to come back feels surreal," said Hallam.

Family and friends were also thrilled that they had the opportunity to attend the event.

Laura Diggins said her son Cole graduated in May 2020. Diggins said her son is a first generation graduate making it very special for her family to be able to celebrate his accomplishment.

For those who were unable to attend the commencement, it was live streamed on the university's website.