A Virtual Graduation Ceremony for 2020 Graduates
2018 Graduation Highlights. Photo and Cover by Charles Mark-Walker
The perpetuation of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forced Santa Monica College (SMC) officials to turn to a virtual commencement ceremony for this year's graduating class.
On April 7, SMC President Dr. Kathryn Jeffery announced that this year’s graduation commencement on June 16 will occur virtually, as walking the ceremony stage will not be possible for the 2020 graduates due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Further details of the commencement are still in progress.
Dr. Jeffery said it would be "impossible to maintain the safety and health of our graduates and guests in a traditional setting, where thousands gather in Corsair Field." Students who would like to walk across the traditional commencement stage will be given the choice to participate in the 2021 graduation ceremony.
The graduation commencement is an event of large capacity and requires at least two months of preparations in advance, according to SMC Vice President of Enrollment Teresita Rodriguez.
“Where we are at this juncture, there is no way to commit to a June event with such large crowds of both graduates and guests," said Rodriquez.
Contradictory reactions came from SMC students who were looking forward to celebrating their hard work and walking the commencement stage alongside their peers.
SMC student Tobias Maramba is graduating this semester with an Associate's Degree in Computer Science. While he would prefer either a commencement on campus with a limited audience, or a delay of the ceremony under the pandemic is under control, his disappointment is paired with understanding.
"I do not want it to be conducted virtually; a virtual commencement would be a slap in the face, an insult to everything I've worked towards up to this point. While I do not think the Commencement Ceremony should be cancelled, I've resigned myself to the possibility it is inevitable at this point," said Maramba. "I admit I would be bummed and disappointed if it was cancelled."
SMC student Brad Villacis is a Computer Science Major, who is set to graduate with an Associate's Degree in Mathematics and said, “If the commencement ceremony gets cancelled, I'd understand why, but I was really looking forward to it. Along my journey at SMC I made a lot of friends and formed connections with people that have helped me grow into the person I am today... We could all still celebrate each other in our own unique ways, but it just wouldn't be the same as a ceremony designed for all of us.”
"Commencement is one of the best days of the year and we all look forward to celebrating your achievements. I know that for many, many students, that day is truly a dream come true,” said Rodriguez. “The crisis upon us as a nation is unprecedented, and the circumstances demand that we put our graduates’ health and well-being above all other considerations and we will do everything we can to find a way to honor our graduates.”
Other universities who are also going the virtual route for their graduation ceremonies this year include University of Southern California (USC) and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) according to their official announcements at their websites. USC will hold a virtual ceremony in May, while UCLA's date is set on June 12.
“While this is a disappointing turn of events, something that none of us anticipated, maintaining the health and safety of graduates must be the highest priority in this particular moment in time,” said Dr. Jeffery. "Even as we navigate along this murky path, I know that after every heavy rain, the sun eventually does shine."