Two years after they had virtual commencement ceremonies because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Penn State’s Class of 2020 graduates will be invited back to campus for an in-person celebration next spring.
The university announced on Thursday the Class of 2020 Commencement Celebration Weekend will take place April 29 to May 1, 2022 at University Park for all graduate and undergraduate degree recipients from University Park, Commonwealth Campuses and World Campus. Commonwealth Campuses also will be in touch with graduates about additional separate events for their alumni.
“I am so proud of the members of the Class of 2020 and the resilience they embodied as they navigated the pandemic,” Penn State President Eric Barron said in a statement. “Even though these recent alumni have launched their lives and careers, it is important to me, and our entire University community, to welcome them back to campus for a special weekend in their honor and to celebrate their achievements as Penn Staters.”
Graduates, along with their families and friends, will be invited to commencement ceremonies in the Bryce Jordan Center on April 30 and other activities and events to be announced that will be hosted throughout the weekend by the Alumni Association, colleges and student organizations.
Class of 2022 commencement ceremonies will take place the following weekend. The dates for the Class of 2020 celebration were selected, according to the university, because they provided “the best option” for a weekend exclusively for Class of 2020 members and their families, “while addressing alumni preferences for a return to campus with as few COVID-19 restrictions as possible.”
The schedule for the April 30 commencement ceremonies, which will include traditional elements such as individual recognition as graduates cross the stage, will depend on the number of class members and guests who plan to attend.
Members of the class will receive details on the schedule of events and registration in the coming months, and should check that their current email address is on file with the university.
Penn State’s spring, summer and winter commencements in 2020 were all held virtually amid the pandemic, though throughout the year university officials pledged that the new alumni would be welcomed back to campus for an in-person celebration at a later date.
The spring 2021 ceremonies held in May, including those for University Park at Beaver Stadium, were Penn State’s first in-person commencement events since December 2019.
“We are so excited to welcome the Class of 2020 back to campus next spring,” said Paul Clifford, president of the Penn State Alumni Association, said in a news release. “We hope our alumni and their friends and families will join us for a weekend of special activities and events, as well as visit their favorite places on campus and in the Centre region.”
