Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

UNLV to grads: Earning degree during pandemic is even more commendable

UNLV grad

UNLV / Twitter image

UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield address graduates during a virtual ceremony on Dec. 14, 2020. The commencement was forced to be conducted remotely because of the pandemic.

There were no classmates sitting side by side, marching one by one to the podium to pick up their hard-earned diplomas.

No proud, cheering parents, grandparents, siblings and friends packed into the bleachers at the Thomas & Mack Center.

And, for goodness sake, no germy handshakes and high-fives.

More than 5,000 UNLV students celebrated their graduation today coronavirus pandemic style — online with a virtual commencement ceremony.

“In normal times, achieving a college degree is a monumental feat, but in 2020, earning that credential against the backdrop of a worldwide pandemic is even more commendable,” UNLV said in a statement acknowledging these strange days.

Added university President Keith Whitfield: “My sincerest congratulations to the #UNLVGrad Class of 2020. You did it! The accomplishment you are celebrating today was years in the making. Remember that, as hard as it may be to believe it some days, this pandemic is temporary. But your achievement will last a lifetime.”

More than 3,000 students graduated with the 2020 spring class and some 2,200 with the winter class.

Today, they took to Twitter with the hashtag #UNLVGrad to celebrate their achievements. Here’s a sampling of what they had to say: