Winter graduations ceremonies for area colleges held Friday, more to be held this weekend

Local college students officially wrapped up their fall semesters this week.

For students who finished up their degrees, winter graduations started up too.

Families of out-of-state students sometimes spend a couple days in Columbia to watch their student’s graduation, Megan McConachie, spokesperson for the Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau said.

“Even though these winter graduations are often smaller, they do still bring visitors to our community,” she added. “And of course, while those visitors are here, they're staying in our hotels, dining in our restaurants, shopping in our stores. And so that still has a big economic impact on our community.”

In a news release, the University of Missouri said that 1,973 students will graduate over the weekend, and more than 2,100 degrees will be awarded. Ceremonies for a number of programs at Mizzou began Friday.

The university isn't the only school hosting graduations this weekend. Columbia College held Job Point’s winter graduation Thursday. A commencement for the college is set for Saturday.

A commencement ceremony for Stephens College was held Friday.

“Those impacts for the community mean, of course, the sustainability of our small businesses,” McConachie said. “Whether that is in a tourism related business or the ripple effect, that spending has also helps to support resident quality of life year round.”