Today is still their day, AU Class of 2020
Anderson University has prepared a special video tribute for the Class of 2020. The pandemic led to the cancellation of this year’s Commencement exercises. However, the university felt that the graduates needed to be celebrated for all of their accomplishments.
There have been unprecedented changes that have taken place in our world through the pandemic. We believed that unique, bold, and creative measures could be taken to make the originally scheduled Commencement day extremely meaningful. We wanted to create a memorable tribute to our graduates, their families, and the entire Raven family who work year-round investing in the lives of students to make today a reality.
In a standard Commencement ceremony, one or two representatives of the university have the privilege of reading the names of the entire graduating class. In this new, uncharted time, we took this as an opportunity to invite faculty and staff across the campus to volunteer to read off the names of the students that they had a personal relationship with. In our residential campus setting, students build life-long memories and often transformative relationships in the classroom, small groups, residence halls, athletic teams, campus jobs, and so much more. We wanted as many students as possible to have their name read specifically by someone who knows and sees them. When the overlap was possible, some employees were able to read off the names of their graduates to make this weekend extra special for their family. As each student hears their name read aloud today, our hope is that they know AU’s truly cares for them, their success, and their future.
CDC guidelines were followed to the highest degree in the creation of this video. Each video participant came alone at a scheduled time to a remote filming location. This project followed essential public health precautions such as social distancing, good hygiene, mask-wearing, and more to make this video tribute to the Class of 2020 possible.
Anderson University is on a mission to educate students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 60 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 20 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult and graduate programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized among top colleges for its business, computer science, cybersecurity, dance, engineering, nursing, and teacher education programs. Anderson University was established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God.