Dear Seniors, Faculty, and Staff Members, 

In March of 2020 — in what was one of the more sobering and somber moments in our early response to the pandemic — we were forced to make the painful decision to cancel Commencement for the Class of 2020. We committed to the graduates at that time that, once it was safe to do so, we would find an opportunity to give them a Commencement experience that COVID-19 took from them; few of us imagined then that COVID would cause such disruption for so long.

The pandemic has shifted in ways that allow us to return to an official in-person Commencement ceremony this May. We are all eager to gather for this momentous occasion in our students’ lives and in the life of the College. In keeping with our promise to the Class of 2020, I’m pleased to announce that I have invited members of the Class back to participate in this year’s ceremony. We are committed to celebrating them in a manner that complements the well-earned recognition of the members of the Class of 2022. I am grateful to the members of the Class of 2020 for their input that helped lead to this decision and to the senior class officers of the Class of 2022 for their gracious and enthusiastic support of this idea. We will share more details as the event draws near. 

This spirit of unity is yet another reminder of our community’s graciousness and generosity. I look forward to sharing in this glorious celebration with all of you.  

Sincerely, 

Val Smith
President