Graduating from home Seniors share how they celebrate graduation despite commencement being canceled BY KILLIAN CANTO
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, BYU–Hawaii and other Church Educational System schools announced the cancellation of all large gatherings, including graduation ceremonies. A few BYUH students held a small celebration on March 17, almost a month before the previously scheduled commencement. The graduates and their families shared how this wasn’t the graduation they expected, but it was a nice way to say goodbye to BYUH. Having attended BYUH off and on for the past five years, Brinley Shumway, a senior from Colorado studying musical theater, said she wanted a way to commemorate the years she, her husband and their friends spent working towards graduation. “I wanted to have a good way to celebrate the ending of all of it,” she explained. “I just thought doing a fake graduation would be fun.” Aaron Shumway, Brinley Shumway’s father-in-law and a BYUH alumnus, said it was a way to give the graduates the experience, even if it was unofficial. Playing “Pomp and Circumstance” with three chairs on either side of a middle aisle, each graduate was announced with their name, major and GPA. When presented with their “diploma,” which was Aaron and his wife May Shumway’s diplomas from when they attended BYUH, each graduate shared their favorite class and memory from their time in Laie. Six 32
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students who said they have been friends since the beginning of their freshman years at BYUH shared four caps and gowns, and had their parents there either physically or via video chat. Kenner Shumway, Brinley Shumway’s husband and a senior from Laie studying applied mathematics, said he was looking forward to saying goodbye to college and the island. He said when the announcement canceling graduation came, he was shocked. He said, as with all canceled events because of the COVID-19 outbreak, it felt surreal.
“It was weird,” said Brinley Shumway. “Nobody ever thought this was going to happen.” Brinley and Kenner Shumway said they had a sense of peace through it all, despite the effects of the virus. Even though it was disappointing to lose their chance to walk on stage, May Shumway said the graduates had great attitudes. “It doesn’t really make up, but this kind of thing is a good alternative,” she shared after Aaron Shumway applauded the way she was able to decorate and organize the celebration in such a meaningful way. Looking forward to leis and celebration with family and friends, one of the six graduates, Davia Kaopua, a senior from Hawaii studying biology, said she was fine missing the two-hour-long commencement. Kaopua said she was grateful for the opportunity to at least show her gratitude for the people who helped her gain her diploma and her time at BYUH. “I definitely didn't do it on my own,” she pointed out. “I wouldn’t have gone through graduation without the people who were in that room with me.” When he heard about the idea, Caleb Menendez, a senior from Colorado studying information systems, said he was excited. “The Shumways are awesome, and I knew they’d put on Kenner and Brinley Shumway shared four caps and gowns with other students for their own commencement. Photo provided by Brinley Shumway
