Departments host livestreams to maintain graduation traditions  

The COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings hasn’t stopped educators from celebrating the Class of 2020.

As Ohio State leaders prepare for a historic virtual commencement ceremony Sunday, departments throughout Hagerty Hall are livestreaming end-of-the-year ceremonies and graduation events to recognize graduates and their college journey. 

The Department of Comparative Studies is hosting a virtual ceremony for graduates, faculty and staff at 1 p.m. today while the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and the Department of French and Italian are hosting similar events on May 9. In addition, Executive Dean Gretchen Ritter is leading a virtual send-off for graduates in the College of Arts and Sciences on Saturday. Each celebration will feature video tributes to students from faculty and staff sending congratulations, well wishes and support.
 
 “One of the true highlights of every spring has been our end-of-the-year awards ceremony and celebration of achievements,” Comparative Studies Chair Barry Shank said. “We gather together to eat cake and cheer the accomplishments of everyone in our department. No virus will stop us from this moment of joy.”

The Comparative Studies event recognizes the contributions and achievements of 18 graduates and features comments from the department’s leaders and advisors. Previous ceremonies have always ended with cake. This year, organizers invited attendees to bring cakes to eat at the virtual gathering.

Since 2015, the Department of Spanish and Portuguese has organized a graduation and awards ceremony for students earning their undergraduate, graduate and doctorate degrees. John Grinstead, a professor of Hispanic linguistics who organizes the annual event, said the department didn’t want to break tradition this year.

Alumnus Erika Senk will serve as the keynote speaker for the event on May 9. Senk is a bilingual intensive care unit nurse currently working with COVID-19 cases in Connecticut.

Meanwhile, those graduating with French, Italian and Romance Studies majors and minors can attend a virtual ceremony organized by the Department of French and Italian also on May 9.

Jonathan Combs-Schilling, an assistant professor of Italian, will give the commencement address while Ross Guthery, who is graduating with an honors degree in French and economics with a math minor, will give the student speech. Following the ceremony, graduates can navigate to separate Zoom chat rooms to connect with faculty members of their choice.

“This year we feel that it is even more important to bring together our students and faculty and celebrate as a department,” said Sonya Afanasyeva, the department’s academic program coordinator who organized the event.