Kansas State University held their commencement ceremonies at Bill Snyder family stadium over the weekend for 2020 and 2021 graduates.
Graduates from the Fall and Spring semesters of 2020 who did have a commencement ceremony were invited back to join the 2021 graduates. The ceremonies began on Friday with the Graduate School and College of Veterinary Medicine.
During the Graduate School ceremony, K-State President Richard Myers commended the resilience of the graduates who spent the pandemic finishing their courses and to those who came back to celebrate. Myers says the graduates’ presence at the ceremonies showed how the university came together and how dedicated the graduates were to moving forward with their lives.
While these students faced the challenges of the pandemic, they also had those challenges in the classroom as well. Myers says students signed up for those challenges as they are inquisitive, curious, and willing to make a significant contribution to the world.
“Since March 2020, the pandemic has provided you with challenges you did not sign up for. You have been challenged like no other graduating class before you,” says Myers. “But you overcame serous challenges, stayed healthy and here you are standing strong.”
Myers ended his speech saying since these students survived the past year, they should feel like they can take on anything.
As the ceremonies continued through the weekend, those scheduled for Sunday hit a few bumps as inclement weather began to roll in. The first ceremony of the day, the College of Agriculture, was delayed to 10 a.m. after Myers and Provost Charles Taber consulted with the National Weather Service in Topeka.
But then, lightning was striking close to Manhattan causing further delays and ultimately combining the ceremony with the College of Business Administration.
However, rain continued throughout the day causing the College of Engineering’s 6 p.m. ceremony to move venues. The ceremony was held in the Ballroom of the K-State Student Union where only graduates were allowed in.
During that ceremony, Executive Vice President of The Boeing Company Leanne Caret spoke to the graduates about what comes next. Caret congratulated the graduates for not just reaching this point, but doing so during an unprecedented year.
Caret spoke about the Greatest Generation; the generation born in the early 1900’s, who grew up during the Great Depression and served in World War II.
“When I think about you, the graduating classes of 2021 and 2020 and what’s ahead for you, I truly believe you are this country’s next greatest generation,” says Caret.
Caret says when she looks at the hardships and challenges overcome by the Greatest Generation, she can’t help but think of these graduating classes. Coming of age during a pandemic and the fight for racial justice, Caret says these graduates stand at the cusp of their future.
“At a turning point, a time of hope, you have the opportunity to write our next chapter as a nation and as a society,” says Caret. “You are exactly what we need right now because you embody the traits of that greatest generation.”
Those traits Caret spoke of are perseverance ,empathy, and resilience.
All of the ceremonies were live streamed and are available to watch on YouTube.
