On March 30, 2020 the Brenau Office of Academic Affairs announced that there will be a commencement ceremony for the senior class. Once the Brenau campus is allowed to re-open there will be commencement ceremony, which could be around May or June. This means for seniors they will no longer have to wait until August- the estimated date for graduation- for the biggest moment of their college career. These are few things Brenau seniors had to say about the the possibility of graduation being sooner than expected:
Dyiesha Brown, a summer 2020 graduate, said that she appreciated Brenau keeping the seniors in mind. Moreover, she sees a positive in the pandemic. “Students like me (summer graduates) will be able to graduate with their peers. I’m staying optimistic, they have our best interest in heart and that Brenau wouldn’t put us in harm’s way,” she said.
Others are a little hesitant about possibly attending a graduation in summer.
Adrianna Velazquez, a December 2020 graduate, states “ I am not sure about graduation. Special rules and regulations need to be in place and maybe handed out masks. I am very conflicted. My friends should be able to walk but we also don’t want to risk getting sick. Maybe holding it off until mid-summer but before August might be better”.
Regardless of the news about an upcoming summer graduation, some seniors are still mourning the loss of their senior year traditions.
Cairis Barron, a May 2020 graduate, says “coronavirus has thrown off the entire momentum of senior year. I would love to walk. But if I got a job I won’t be able to take time off to graduate because of the 90-day period. But if it was December I would not walk. It’s no longer my graduation.”
This has been very uncertain times for many graduates and what their next step in life will be. The registrar office has promised graduates that they will receive their diploma the week of May 18. Whether there is a ceremony or not, this will be an unforgettable time of their life.
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