‘To have this ... to celebrate is so important’
Class of 2021 graduates able to walk across the stage – by appointment
The familiar notes of the iconic melody “Pomp and Circumstance” was heard, a palpable feeling of excitement could be felt, and a lot of happy smiles were seen at the Falcon Graduation Walk at Fitchburg State University on Friday.
Close to 400 members of the FSU Class of 2021 participated in the in-person, byappointment commencement experience held in the Athletics and Recreation Center on North Street that was spread out over three days — April 29, April 30, and May 1. The bonus graduation option was offered in addition to the virtual commencement ceremonies that will take place in May.
FSU Director of Public Relations Matthew Bruun is on the Commencement Committee made up of students and faculty that organized the event and the upcoming virtual ceremonies. He said they are not having a traditional in-person commencement ceremony due to the COVID19 pandemic and restrictions as a result of it.
“The Falcon Graduation Walk (was) a complementary experience for those graduates who wanted an in-person celebration,” Bruun said. “We were happy to create an opportunity for graduates and guests to share a safe but joyful acknowledgement of their accomplishment.”
Bruun said the Falcon Graduation Walk went “great” on Thursday.
“People were really happy,” he said. Participating graduates signed up for an appointment time on one of the three days and could bring up to four guests with them to watch them walk across the stage, whether it be family members or friends.
The graduates’ names were called by Vice President for Academic Affairs Alberto Cardelle and they were greeted on stage by Chief Information Security Officer Sherry Horeanopoulos before collecting a diploma cover.
Neve Palmier from Uxbridge is graduat
ed with a bachelor’s degree in communications media and is on the Commencement Committee as student representative.
“It is amazing,” Palmier said when asked how it felt to be able to walk across the stage with her family and friends watching, beaming with pride. “To have this as a way to celebrate is so important.”
Palmier brought her mother Julie McMurray, her aunt Jean McMurray, her grandmother Genevieve McMurry, and her best friend, Kathleen Gallahue, an FSU education major and fellow graduate who said she was doing the Falcon Graduation Walk on Saturday.
“Thank you for sharing Neve with us,” Bruun said to Palmier’s family at the event.
After getting their official graduation portrait taken on stage by professional photographer Ed Collier, the graduates got the chance to pose for photos solo and with their guests and take some selfies by life-size cardboard cutouts of school mascot Freddy the Falcon and FSU President Richard S. Lapidus.
“We will be sending the digital photos to the grads as a gift,” Bruun said.
In addition, all walk participants were gifted with graduation swag that included a stainless-steel tumbler emblazoned with the FSU logo containing a keychain, a pin, letters from the president and alumni association, and a 2021 gold tassel.
“We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the graduates and their families, who are grateful to have the opportunity to walk across the stage and be cheered on by their loved ones,” Bruun said.
“The many volunteers from the ranks of university staff and faculty have also been glad to congratulate our graduates in person,” he said.
Traditionally, the undergraduate commencement ceremony takes place on the main quad and the graduate ceremony in the Athletics and Recreation Center.
FSU held virtual commencement ceremonies last year for both spring and winter Class of 2020 graduates and the ceremonies premiered online in December for both sets of graduates. The commencement ceremonies are once again being conducted virtually this year for the 900 graduates total in the Class of 2021, with graduate degrees being conferred at 6:30 p.m. on May 13 and undergraduate degrees at 10 a.m. on May 15.
“We are excited to share the virtual commencement ceremonies in May, where all of the members of the Class of 2021 will get their well-deserved spotlight,” Bruun said.
FSU faculty members from academic support, student life, human resources, professors, and more pitched in to help with the walk, all smiles watching the graduates participating, and will be doing the same for the commencement ceremonies. “We are fortunate to have a committed team that develops our commencement celebrations, all of whom go above and beyond their regular daily duties to create these occasions,” Bruun said. “The work of the university is about much more than graduation day, but it’s a powerful symbol of accomplishment and a chance for us to pay tribute to the graduates who have worked so hard.”