With an increasing supply of the COVID-19 vaccination, Fort Lewis College has decided to host seven small, outdoor, in-person commencement ceremonies in 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic prevented Fort Lewis College from hosting any in-person commencement ceremonies in 2020.
Spring 2021 Commencement has been separated into seven ceremonies that will take place May 7 and May 8 outside on Dennison Memorial Field. Fewer than 60 graduates will be individually recognized at each ceremony.
“Being able to host graduation in person this year means we get to celebrate two significant and exciting accomplishments with our students – that they earned a degree from one of the best colleges in the nation and that they courageously persevered through a global pandemic,” said President Tom Stritikus in news release.
The ceremonies are not open to the public or the media. Students participating in one of the seven ceremonies have been permitted two guest tickets at this time. More tickets may be allotted per student should La Plata County move up on the COVID-19 Dial and local public health officials permit more attendees for outdoor events.
A livestream of each ceremony will be available on Facebook at facebook.com/fortlewis for those not attending ceremonies in person.
“Commencement represents so many important things to our students and their families, and I can’t wait to congratulate them in person,” Stritikus said.
Tickets are required and this rule will be strictly enforced.
Masks will be required throughout the ceremony. Food and drink will not be permitted, and gatherings before and after ceremonies will be limited.
Addressing the graduates will be faculty from one of the departments represented at the ceremony. The ceremonies will include these majors as follows:
Ceremony A, noon: Programs: exercise and health promotion, exercise physiology, exercise science, exercise specialist, public health, sport administration. Speaker: Sara Newman, assistant professor of public health.Ceremony B, 2:30 p.m.: Programs: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, engineering, physics, pre-health certificate. Speaker: Shere Byrd, professor of biology.Ceremony C: 5 p.m.: communication design, English, history, journalism and multimedia studies, marketing, studio art, theater, writing. Speaker: Andy Gulliford, professor of history.Saturday, May 8
Ceremony D, 9 a.m.: Programs: accounting, business administration, economics. Speaker: Wade Litt, assistant professor of economics.Ceremony E, 11:30 a.m. Programs: master of arts in education, teacher leadership and teacher licensure, adventure education, early childhood education, educational studies, elementary education, K-12 education, philosophy. Speaker: Beth Dorman, professor of teacher educationCeremony F, 2 p.m.: Programs: criminology and justice studies, psychology, sociology, sociology and human services. Speaker: Brian Burke, professor of psychologyCeremony G: 4:30 p.m.: Programs: anthropology, computer engineering, environmental science, environmental studies, geology, mathematics, Native American and Indigenous studies, political science, and virtual graduates. Speaker: Veronika Furst, professor of mathematics.
