Celebrating graduates—COVID style

North Central University’s Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2020, originally slated for May 1, was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. At that time, President Scott Hagan, Ph.D., announced that the class would be celebrated on Dec. 12 of the same year, never anticipating that even that would be too soon to host a full traditional ceremony. In an unprecedented season, the graduates gathered in the Lindquist Sanctuary masked and socially distant, while family and friends joined from around the world via livestream.

Restrictions on gatherings persisted into spring. While the Class of 2021 was able to graduate “on time,” their celebration at Cedar Valley Church on April 30 included only graduates, faculty, and ceremony participants. Family members watched via livestream.

Chaplain (Major General) Thomas Solhjem ’82, M.Div., Chief of Chaplains for the United States Army, gave the commencement address.

There are two voices in life: there’s the critic and there’s the champion. Let Christ be the voice you hear; let Him be your champion. “

Major General Thomas Solhjem ’82, U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains