The Kent State University alumni family will grow by nearly 1,300 new graduates as the university holds its summer commencement. The accomplishments of the Summer Class of 2020 will be recognized with a virtual commencement recognition ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 15, at 11 a.m. EDT, in accordance with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s order to prohibit mass gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kent State students, faculty, staff, parents and friends are invited to tune into the virtual commencement at www.kent.edu/commencement. On the site, there will be two commencement ceremonies – one for graduates receiving undergraduate degrees and one for graduates receiving advanced degrees – that recognize all colleges and campuses of Kent State.
In total, 1,292 degrees will be conferred this summer, consisting of 225 associate degrees, 690 bachelor’s degrees, 294 master’s degrees, 68 doctoral degrees and 15 educational specialist degrees.
More than 645 of the graduating students have confirmed their participation in the Aug. 15 virtual commencement. These students will receive a commencement package so that they are ready to go on commencement day. The commencement package includes a mortarboard, tassel, alumni pin, diploma cover, honors cords for eligible graduates and hoods for doctoral graduates.
Commencement packages have been sent to graduating students near and far, including those in Arizona, California, Florida, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.
During the virtual commencement, graduating students will hear from Kent State President Todd Diacon and Interim Senior Vice President and Provost Melody Tankersley. Graduating students will also receive individual name recognition and participate in the conferral of degrees and tassel turning ceremony.
The virtual commencement does not replace the in-person commencement ceremony. All students who graduate this summer will be invited back to campus for commencement when it is deemed safe to do so.
In a separate virtual ceremony held Aug. 7, an honorary Doctor of Science degree was conferred on Kent State alumnus Earl K. Miller, Ph.D., a world-renowned neuroscientist who serves as the Picower Professor of Neuroscience at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Miller was honored for his preeminent contributions to the field of neuroscience and for his inspiring example to all Kent State Golden Flashes. Read more and watch the honorary degree conferral here.
For more information and to watch the Aug. 15 virtual commencement, visit www.kent.edu/commencement.
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Photo Captions:
Top Photo:
A Kent State University graduate from the Spring Class of 2020 celebrates receiving her degree. (Photo credit: Twitter: @melissam303/Melissa McCarley)
Right Photo:
A Kent State University graduate from the Spring Class of 2020 stands with his diploma at Dix Stadium. (Photo credit: Instagram: @alex_barnard_)
Media Contacts:
Eric Mansfield, emansfie@kent.edu, 330-672-2797
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595