Take a bow

This year’s spring commencement ceremonies looked a little different from previous years.

Wright State University held four ceremonies at the Nutter Center on April 30 and May 1 during which nearly 1,900 students graduated.

To accommodate COVID-19 safety protocols, students were seated six feet apart during the program. When graduates’ names were read aloud, students stood up to be recognized by their friends and family.

“It’s kind of like the cherry on top of our college career,” said Adrian Williams, president of the Student Government Association who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience. “It’s really nice to be publicly celebrated and have your friends and family around you.”

These were the first in-person commencement ceremonies held by Wright State in over 16 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Williams and the Student Government worked with the administration and other units at Wright State to ensure the university could safely hold in-person commencement ceremonies.

“I’m really proud of Wright State and the administration,” said Williams.

“They were more than willing to work with us and it resulted in a phenomenal event today.”

The spring class of 2021 included graduates with 1,434 bachelor’s degrees, 455 master’s degrees, 28 doctoral degrees and 28 associate degrees.

The ceremonies also included remarks by Wright State President Sue Edwards and video messages from Gov. Mike DeWine and Mary Boosalis, president and CEO of Premier Health, each of whom praised graduates for their resilience and fortitude in achieving their dreams during extraordinary times.