Commencement ceremony for Spring 2020 grads to be held on Saturday

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The University of Louisiana at Lafayette will hold an in-person Commencement ceremony for Spring 2020 graduates at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, at M.L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park.

In May, the Spring 2020 class was recognized during a virtual Commencement celebration that was created because of bans on large gatherings as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ceremonies for the University’s eight academic colleges and the Graduate School were posted online. Graduates heard congratulatory messages from administrators, college deans and student leaders. They were also able to create personalized pages with photos, videos and quotes. A televised Commencement celebration was broadcast the next day.

Diplomas, commencement programs, and honor cords and medallions were mailed to graduates the following week.

On Saturday, about 180 Spring 2020 graduates will celebrate in the traditional manner – at a live ceremony, in full regalia, among family and friends, said Dr. DeWayne Bowie, UL Lafayette’s vice president for Enrollment Management. Several students have chosen to be recognized during the Fall 2020 Commencement ceremony, which will be held in December.

“The University is grateful we will be able to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of Spring 2020 graduates at traditional ceremonies. They completed their degree requirements while facing extraordinary, unprecedented challenges. It is a remarkable class,” Bowie said.

It is also a record-setting class. The 1,905 degrees earned by Spring 2020 graduates are the most for a single semester in University history.

Safety will be a focus during the Spring 2020 in-person ceremony on Saturday.

  • Seating for graduates and spectators will be arranged to ensure social distancing.
  • Up to four family members or friends of graduates who have reserved tickets can attend the ceremony.
  • Guests and graduates will be required to wear masks or face coverings.
  • Sanitizing stations will be placed throughout the stadium.

Motorists should enter the M.L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park parking lot via South College Road through Gate 1.

The Spring 2020 in-person ceremony will be livestreamed on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Facebook page, the Cajundome’s Facebook page and at https://vimeo.com/475232973

Share your story with family and friends by using the #ragingrads hashtag on Twitter and Instagram.

Follow the University's @ULLafayette and @RaginGraduation Instagram accounts and Twitter account for photos of the event.

Visit the University’s Commencement website for gifs and gif stickersdesktop and phone wallpapers, and downloadable Instagram story templates.

Learn more about the Saturday’s Spring 2020 Commencement ceremony at M.L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park.

Photo caption: UL Lafayette will hold an in-person Commencement ceremony for Spring 2020 graduates at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, at M.L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park. In May, the Spring 2020 class was recognized during a virtual Commencement ceremony because of bans on large gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo credit: Rachel Rafati / University of Louisiana at Lafayette

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