Class of 2020 Degrees to be Conferred Virtually, Commencement Postponed to October
Students stand arm in arm during the 184th commencement exercises (Photo courtesy of Gettysburg College).
By Gauri Mangala, Managing Editor
It has been announced that the Class of 2020 Commencement will be held over Fall Reading Days, on Oct. 9-10 of the upcoming semester.
In an email to the senior class, Commencement Coordinator Katie Barako stated that more than 80 percent of the Class of 2020 responded to a survey regarding how students would like to celebrate Commencement.
“The overwhelming majority wanted the opportunity to have an in-person Commencement, so we will do so,” said Barako. “We also want to be sure that we do not let Sunday, May 17, go unnoticed.”
On the weekend of May 16, the college will hold a virtual commencement where Class President Callie Fucarino ’20 will speak and President Bob Iuliano will confer degrees.
“As part of the commencement committee, it has been clear that our school cares about us and wants to give us a special celebration to commemorate our time as Gettysburg students,” said Fucarino. “As May 17th will still be the day our degrees are conferred and we are supposed to be graduating, I think it is great to give some sort of nod to the day, even virtually. Holding an in-person graduation in October, is the best we can do with the circumstances we were given and I consider us lucky to have Katie Barako and the rest of the committee working so hard to give our class a graduation.”
Seniors are encouraged to submit notes of appreciation, in lieu of stoles of gratitude, directly to those who supported them, as well as to news@gettysburg.edu to include in the May celebration.
The current plans for the October Commencement consists of a Senior Class Party, Baccalaureate, Commencement Ceremony (including Spring Honors Day Award recipients’ recognition), and a Post-Commencement Reception.
While the college will plan for this October Commencement, it is not set in stone.
“In these uncertain times, we will adhere as always to Pennsylvania’s public health advisories to ensure the safety of all participating in and supporting events in the coming year,” said Barako. “If we need to further postpone, a decision will be made by September 1.”
A previous version of this article stated that Commencement would be held Oct. 11-12, not 9-10.
