作者：辛西娅·休伯特

2024年12月16日

COVID-19大流行夺走了许多博彩平台毕业生走过金色1中心舞台并公开庆祝他们学术成就的兴奋感。

12月14日，Sac州立大学自2017年以来首次恢复冬季毕业典礼，2020届和2021届的毕业生终于有了这样的机会。 2024届毕业生在两场仪式上接受毕业证书后，新冠肺炎毕业班的毕业生参加了毕业倒带庆祝活动。

“Many of you had been dreaming of the moment you would walk across this stage at graduation, only to see that moment slip away” after the campus shut down in March 2020, said 囊状态 President Luke Wood. “We wanted to make sure that we had the opportunity to celebrate all of you.”

带领该校度过疫情的名誉校长罗伯特·s·尼尔森（Robert S. nelson）从德克萨斯州赶来，向参加典礼的600多名毕业生表示祝贺。 他提醒他们那段时间的孤独和孤立，取代课堂学习的Zoom课程，以及因疫情而失去的家人和朋友。

“COVID took something from each of us,” Nelsen said. “Each and every one of you is a miracle, because you kicked that bug’s butt, and you graduated from 囊状态.”

由于大流行的安全预防措施，2020届毕业生被迫以虚拟方式庆祝毕业典礼。 A year later, they and those in the Class of 2021 were invited to “CARmencement,” a unique, drive-thru 毕业典礼 ceremony during which graduates and their loved ones participated in a 庆祝车队穿过校园.

（故事在视频下面继续。）

在毕业回顾庆典上，一个特别的视频庆祝了2020届和2021届毕业生的韧性。 尽管面临大流行的挑战，他们坚持远程学习，从未放弃自己的梦想。

 

2020年毕业的伊塞拉·卡斯蒂略（Yisela Castillo）说，当她失去了和同学们一起参加毕业典礼的机会时，她感到很沮丧，觉得自己被骗了。

“We graduated, but we didn’t really feel like we graduated,” said Castillo, who earned a degree in Child Development.

斯宾塞·斯特鲁夫（Spencer Struve）也是2020届毕业生，他表达了类似的观点。

“I had a lot of school spirit that I wanted to express, but I couldn’t do it,” he said. “There was no payoff.”

《毕业倒带》为他们提供了在聚光灯下的时刻。

“I feel great,” Castillo said, “accomplished, excited.”

“And nervous, a little bit,” her friend Janice Phanthai said.

Lillian Murphy, who graduated in 2020 and received the President’s Medal for outstanding academic achievement that year, called the COVID graduates remarkable.

“It’s especially meaningful that we recognize the long journey it took all of us to get to this moment,” Murphy said.

在12月14日举行的前两场毕业典礼上，3000多名毕业生和他们的家人顶着强风和暴雨前往金色中心。

• 参见2024年冬季毕业典礼的照片

卡拉·马丁内斯（Carla Martinez）今年5月毕业，获得了幼儿教育学位，她希望成为一名小学教师。

"I can’t believe that after 5 1/2 years I’m finally here. I’m just thankful for everything. 感谢我的家人，因为他们一直在推动我度过疫情和其他一切。 我要感谢上帝。 It just feels so unreal right now.”

-- Alvaro Cruz Jr., Psychology graduate 

马丁内斯对恶劣天气不以为然。

“It’s always been my dream to be a teacher, so it’s well worth it,” she said.

周六，当心理学专业毕业生小阿尔瓦罗·克鲁兹（Alvaro Cruz Jr.）等待上台接受毕业证书时，他充满了感激之情。

“I can’t believe that after 5 1/2 years I’m finally here,” he said as he sat among his fellow graduates.

“I’m just thankful for everything.,” Cruz said. “感谢我的家人，因为他们一直在推动我度过疫情和其他一切。 我要感谢上帝。 It just feels so unreal right now.”

联合学生公司 总统纳塔利·安德拉德-多明格斯在讲话中谈到了力量和韧性。

“You’ve turned challenges into character, and late nights into your journeys,” she said. “You’ve learned that success isn’t just about reaching a goal, it’s about the growth and the people who lifted you along the way.”

许多毕业生佩戴着刻有个人情感的砂浆板。

“I did it 4 my mom,” one read.

“Psyched to be a teacher.”

“I call the shots now.”

2020级和2021级的一些学员佩戴了迫击炮牌，上面写着自己是COVID-19幸存者。

伍德校长向所有毕业生提出了建议。

“Lead,” he said. “Leadership begins here and now. It’s your time. 接管。

“Never stop working to make this world the place you want it to be.”

Jennifer K. Morita和Daniel Wilson对本文也有贡献。