Diploma
Even though North Greenville University’s in-person Spring 2020 commencement ceremony was canceled due to coronavirus lockdown measures in South Carolina, the Office of Student Services had an idea to offer graduates a memorable way to pick up their commencement memorabilia and documents.
On May 6, 2020, the 276 spring conferrals were invited to pick up their regalia and diplomas through three drive-thru stations at NGU’s Tigerville campus, which included a check-in point, a regalia and diploma pickup, and a station to receive a gift from the Office of Alumni Engagement.
“Our Academic Records staff helped us think through how best to manage the day in light of social distancing guidelines,” says Vice President for Student Services Rachael Russiaky.
Several staff members from the Office of Student Engagement were on hand to help create a celebratory environment with music, photo ops, and cheering, as graduates made their way through the drive-thru route.
NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr., also joined the celebration to hand out regalia and diplomas and to offer words of encouragement and congratulations.
“What a joy it was to wish these graduates well in person as they transition into serving as transformational leaders for church and society. Tis year has been such a challenge to all of our students, but our graduates have had particularly daunting ob- stacles. It was so much fun to celebrate their accomplishments today,” says President Fant. “We hope to find additional ways to celebrate their achievements in the days and months to come.”
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DRIVE-THRU NGU Celebrates Class of 2020 Amid Coronavirus Lockdown
Director of Alumni Engagement Lamont Sullivan (’99, MCM ’13) and colleagues presented each graduate with a gift from the Alumni Association as well.
“Te pomp and circumstance are a bit different this year, but these graduates’ mem- ories at NGU will last a lifetime. Te milestone still stands. Tey have completed the task and are now ready for the next step, whether that is work, graduate school, public service, or another path,” Sullivan says.
For James “JJ” Sherman — Spring 2020 marketing graduate and 2019 First-Team All-America track and field athlete — his next step will take him into familiar terri- tory: he plans to attend graduate school at NGU while pursuing a dream to compete in the next Olympics, an international sporting staple that itself has already been postponed due to concerns about the pandemic.
Sherman attended NGU’s diploma drive-thru event along with more than 150 of his graduating classmates.
“Having faculty there during the pickup was a surprise and uplifting during this depressing situation the world is faced with,” says Sherman.
NGU officials announced in March that the university’s Spring 2020 commence- ment ceremony would be canceled amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the diploma drive-thru, graduates and their families are encouraged to participate in a special commencement ceremony during Homecoming 2020 or the regularly scheduled Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 commencement ceremonies.
Learn more at
ngu.edu/graduation-celebration.
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