{"id":160581,"date":"2020-05-04T08:58:21","date_gmt":"2020-05-04T12:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=160581"},"modified":"2020-05-04T09:01:01","modified_gmt":"2020-05-04T13:01:01","slug":"celebrating-uconns-class-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2020\/05\/celebrating-uconns-class-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating UConn’s Class of 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

Take nothing for granted.<\/p>\n

That may be one of the familiar clich\u00e9s of graduation season \u2013 this isn\u2019t an ending, it\u2019s a beginning; follow your dreams; your time is now \u2013 but it\u2019s a truth that won\u2019t be forgotten by the members of the Class of 2020.<\/p>\n

Barely midway through their final semester, a world that had previously seemed largely predictable in its broad outlines turned instantly into a terra incognita governed by words like pandemic<\/em>, lockdown<\/em>, quarantine<\/em>, flatten the curve<\/em>, and social distancing<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The long-term changes to our world wrought by the COVID-19 epidemic are still uncertain, but for the members of the Class of 2020, one immediate effect was all too clear: the remainder of their final semester would take place online, and their commencement ceremonies \u2013 the day that serves as a capstone to years of hard work and determination \u2013 would not take place, the first time since 1914 UConn has been without graduation ceremonies in the spring.<\/p>\n

But the disappointment of that moment eventually gave way to a recognition that the abrupt change that befell the world in March will not be the last word on the Class of 2020. The 8,912 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students receiving their degrees this month may not be able to gather in person to celebrate their accomplishments, but those accomplishments merit celebration all the same.<\/p>\n

As it does every May, the University of Connecticut has launched a website to highlight a few of the outstanding students receiving degrees this year<\/a>; to reflect on their class and their times; and to pay tribute to the families whose support and unswerving belief are just as much a part of graduation as the traditional cap and gown.<\/p>\n

Here you\u2019ll find students from each college and school within the University: undergraduates, graduates, and professionals; artists and scientists; writers and activists; people who grew up a stone\u2019s throw from Storrs and people who came to campus from thousands of miles away; people whose diverse backgrounds and circumstances symbolize how a tiny school founded for Connecticut farmers in 1881 has become a global university, while remaining true to the best traditions of our state.<\/p>\n

Their reflections on life at UConn and plans for the future offer refreshing and crucial perspective in a time when certainty itself has seemed to vanish from our lives. These are not people intimidated by the circumstances the world finds itself in, nor are they marooned by self-pity at the loss of a critical rite of passage. Instead, they are grateful for all that UConn has given them, and they are eager to make their mark on the world at large.<\/p>\n

When the history of our time is being written, the Class of 2020 won\u2019t be remembered for the pandemic, but rather for how they responded to the challenges it presented. These students are proof that memory will be of meeting, and overcoming, a great test of their character and ability.<\/p>\n

Visit the Class of 2020 website here.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

UConn will be holding its first-ever “virtual commencement” live on Saturday, May 9 at 12:00 p.m. EDT. Please join us at the University’s official YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

View some memorable moments from the last four years, as captured by University photographers:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Learning<\/a>
Learning Communities on Aug. 28, 2016. (Defining Studios\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"The<\/a>
The UConn Marching Band at Rentschler Field on Aug. 31, 2017. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"A<\/a>
A chalk invitation to register to vote seen outside the Chemistry Building on Oct. 25, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Medical<\/a>
Medical and dental students in class on Sept. 27, 2016. (Paul Horton\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn fans at Rentschler Field (UConn Photo).<\/div><\/div>\"The<\/a>
The UConn African Student Association presents a fashion and cultural show, "Road to Zion", in the Jorgensen Center for Performing Arts on Feb. 17, 2017. (Ryan Glista\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Studying<\/a>
Studying outdoors at the School of Law on Dec. 5, 2016. (Sean Flynn\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Students<\/a>
Students celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, on the CLAS Quad on April 8, 2017. (Ryan Glista\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Jonathan<\/a>
Jonathan the Husky leads the UConn Marching Band and the platform party onto the steps of the Hartford campus for the dedication ceremony on Aug. 23, 2017. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Students<\/a>
Students studying in the Homer Babbidge Library on May 1, 2017. (Sean Flynn\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Fans<\/a>
Fans from the UConn Women's Basketball 100th win at Gampel Pavilion on February 13, 2017 (Jack Templeton \u201918 CLAS \/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"A<\/a>
A view of Horsebarn Hill at sunrise on July 20, 2017. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Celebrating<\/a>
Celebrating Gay Pride and LBGT awareness during the Involvement Fair at the Waterbury campus on Sept. 5, 2019. (Sean Flynn\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Collecting<\/a>
Collecting temperature readings at the John S. Rankin Laboratory at Avery Point on Nov. 18, 2016. (Sean Flynn\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Students<\/a>
Students interact with a therapy dog in the Homer Babbidge Library on Dec. 14, 2016. (Ryan Glista\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Students<\/a>
Students building a snowman on the Student Union Mall after a storm storm on March 8, 2018. (Sean Flynn\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Oozeball<\/a>
Oozeball on April 22, 2017. (Sean Flynn\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"More<\/a>
More than 1000 students, faculty, and staff cheer during a rally at the Hugh S. Greer Field House in support of the University on Sept. 20, 2017. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Students<\/a>
Students study in a lounge at the UConn Stamford residence hall on Sept. 7, 2017. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"A<\/a>
A view of the gubernatorial debate at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts on Sept. 26, 2018. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo))<\/div><\/div>\"Students<\/a>
Students enjoying a unusually warm winter day on the Student Union Mall on Feb. 21, 2018. (Sean Flynn\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Students<\/a>
Students study for finals in the UConn Health Sciences Library on November 1, 2018. (Tina Encarnacion\/UConn Health photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Students<\/a>
Students participate in HuskyThon 2020 Feb. 23, 2020. (Lucas Voghell\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Jonathan<\/a>
Jonathan the Husky, left, and Jonathan XIV pose for a photo at left while President Susan Herbst, Joel Fisher of MSG, Val Ackerman, commissioner of the Big East pose at right following an event held at Chase Square at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan to announce UConn's return to the Big East athletic conference on June 27, 2019. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Students<\/a>
Students listen to a lecture by Professor Anna Radziwillowicz in the School of Business on Sept. 6, 2017. (Sean Flynn\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Students<\/a>
Students playing a game of chess at UConn Hartford on Feb. 28, 2019. (Sean Flynn\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Rebecca<\/a>
Rebecca Lobo '95 (CLAS), left, speaks with former NBA player Kobe Bryant following a ceremony to retire Lobo's jersey number at a women's basketball game at Gampel Pavilion on March 2, 2019. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"USG<\/a>
USG President Priyanka Thakkar '20 (BUS) and President Tom Katsouleas cut the ribbon to open the new Student Recreation Center on Aug. 25, 2019. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Student<\/a>
Student play a video game and work on homework in the student Lounge at UConn Waterbury on Sept. 5, 2019. (Sean Flynn\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Actress<\/a>
Actress Rita Moreno meets with PRLACC students, staff, and faculty at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts on Nov. 5, 2019. (Kayla Simon\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Bus<\/a>
Bus outside The Student Union on Oct. 20, 2017. (Austin Carfi\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Jonathan<\/a>
Jonathan XIV poses for a portrait at night near Mirror Lake and the swing treee on Jan. 10, 2018. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a challenging years, UConn’s graduating students offer hope and inspiration. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":160614,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[173,92,174,2225,90,2227,2233],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[1902],"class_list":["post-160581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uconn-avery-point","category-uconn-hartford","category-uconn-stamford","category-uconn-storrs","category-uconn-waterbury","category-uconn-edu-homepage","category-university-news"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-26 15:49:18","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=160581"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160581\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":160641,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160581\/revisions\/160641"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/160614"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=160581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=160581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=160581"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=160581"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=160581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}