SRU Spring Commencement
SLIPPERY ROCK — There still were masks and social distancing, but there also were caps and gowns as Slippery Rock University held outside commencement ceremonies Saturday for the first time since 2008.
Unlike last year, when SRU was unable to conduct its spring commencement ceremonies due to the coronavirus pandemic and instead created two congratulatory videos, there were four ceremonies in real life at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
SRU decided earlier this year to move the ceremonies outdoors to protect the health and safety of attendees because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In past years, spring commencement was conducted via three ceremonies inside Morrow Field House.The College of Education graduates received their diplomas at the stadium at 9 a.m., followed by the College of Business at noon, the College of Liberal Arts at 3 p.m., and the College of Health, Engineering and Science at 6 p.m.Graduate studies ceremonies were at 6 p.m. Friday at the stadium.Participants were reminded to adhere to required physical distancing and to wear face coverings.But that didn't dampen the enthusiasm of graduating College of Business seniors lining up before their noon commencement ceremony.
Justin Hiler of New Castle, a digital media production major, said, “I was skeptical this would take place. But they've taken great precautions to have this ceremony for us, and it turned out to be beautiful and well organized.”“I was hoping for one. I'm thankful we got one,” said Lauren Mock, a finance major from Lower Burrell of the cap-and-gown ceremony.“I'm so grateful we get to walk, especially after last year when they had a virtual thing,” said Tori Widenhofer, of Butler, an information systems major and Mock's sorority sister.“I was really afraid they wouldn't have it. I'm really happy they did,” said Kendall Wescoat, a hospitality major from Titusville. “But they are doing it right, and I feel it is a really good choice on the part of Slippery Rock.”Wescoat said her mother and father will watch her graduate from the stadium stands, but the two-ticket-per-graduate limit on attendance meant her boyfriend would have to watch the commencement via livestreaming in his car.
Jace Stutz, of Butler, an accounting major, said, “Three months ago if you would have asked me, I would have gone with no ceremony.”His fellow accounting major, Noah Lewis, of Monaca, said that after a semester of virtual classes, the graduation “is the first time I've seen a lot of people since last spring.”Stutz said taking virtual classes made getting his diploma that much more difficult.“I feel like I got a complete college education, but there was a huge learning curve,” he said. “I had to teach myself. I had to study a lot harder.” Not being able to confer or ask advice from his professors meant, Stutz said, “The Internet was probably my No. 1 resource.”Hiler took all of his classes remotely too.“I still feel I got a well-rounded education. Slippery Rock University took all ways to keep student safety in mind and accommodate everybody,” said Hiler. “There were elements I missed out on, but I didn't feel my education was compromised.”For those unable to attend the ceremony, SRU livestreamed it on the university's website, www.sru.edu.Before conferring diplomas, or in this case diploma covers, (the actual diplomas will be mailed to the graduates) William Behre, SRU's president made some brief remarks.Behre congratulated the graduates' parents, spouses, significant others and grandparents for “cheering and cajoling their graduates” to this moment.Behre also singled out for special mention the graduates who were the first of their family to achieve a college degree and the graduates who were active-duty military members of veterans.
