A virtual commencement ceremony on Dec. 19 will celebrate 702 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire students who are graduating at the end of the fall 2020 semester while also honoring 1,433 May graduates whose ceremonies were canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During these extraordinary times, our 2020 graduates have shown what it truly means to be Blugolds,” says Chancellor James Schmidt. “Their perseverance and resilience allowed them to maintain their focus on the goal of obtaining a world-class education at UW-Eau Claire. I am proud that all of our 2020 graduates — both spring and winter — will be able to celebrate their tremendous accomplishments through our virtual commencement.”
The online ceremony will broadcast live from Pablo Center at the Confluence, with some sections of the event taped. The chancellor will virtually confer degrees on graduates. The ceremony also will include messages from Schmidt, UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association President Todd Athorp and graduating student Simon Jing Voon, who will receive a bachelor’s degree in English and sociology; photos and messages from graduates; and music performed for the event.
The Blugold Spirit Award, which traditionally is given to one alumnus or alumna each semester, is collectively being awarded to the Class of 2020 for all who graduated this year.
A slideshow of graduates can be viewed online starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, with the commencement ceremony beginning at 10 a.m.
Fall graduates include a total of 654 students who are candidates for bachelor’s degrees, including 249 from the College of Arts and Sciences, 160 from the College of Business, 185 from the College of Education and Human Sciences, and 60 from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
A total of 48 students are candidates for graduate degrees. In the College of Arts and Sciences, four students are candidates for an education specialist degree and 10 students are candidates for a master’s degree. Two students are candidates for master’s degrees from the College of Education and Human Sciences. Thirty-two students are candidates for MBAs from the College of Business.
Information about spring 2020 graduates were detailed in this May story.
