{"id":9335,"date":"2021-05-18T11:54:54","date_gmt":"2021-05-18T15:54:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/?p=9335"},"modified":"2021-08-03T22:41:08","modified_gmt":"2021-08-04T02:41:08","slug":"marymount-commencement-returns-to-in-person-format-with-more-than-620-graduating-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/blog\/marymount-commencement-returns-to-in-person-format-with-more-than-620-graduating-students\/","title":{"rendered":"MU commencement returns to in-person format, with 1,130 graduating students"},"content":{"rendered":"

*An earlier version of this story included statistics on the number of students who attended commencement ceremonies, rather than the number of total degrees awarded. These references have been updated.<\/em><\/p>\n

After virtual ceremonies were held last year<\/a> due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Marymount University was proud to once again offer in-person, outdoor commencement ceremonies for 2021 graduates this year while also celebrating members of the Class of 2020 as well.<\/p>\n

From May 14-16, the University\u2019s commencement ceremonies<\/a> took place on the Converse Family Field<\/a> on Main Campus, and included students who qualified for graduation from the Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 semesters. For the first time, these ceremonies were organized by College, with undergraduate and graduate students included together, and doctoral students where appropriate.<\/p>\n

\"A
A view of Marymount University’s Commencement Ceremony for the College of Sciences and Humanities<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Kicking off Commencement Weekend was the Ceremony for the College of Health and Education<\/a>, which took place Friday morning. Degrees were conferred to students in the fields of Nursing<\/a>, Health Sciences<\/a>, Counseling<\/a> and Education<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In her speeches to graduates, Marymount University President Irma Becerra described how members of the Class of 2021 have demonstrated their ability to be \u201cantifragile,\u201d a term coined by author Nassim Taleb.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would have been hard enough to simply reach this point by getting to commencement, but you did this under incredible stress and shock due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And as a result, you emerged more successful and stronger than ever,\u201d she explained. \u201cNot only were you robust and resilient during this pandemic, but you thrived and graduated. The difficulties you overcame this year made you stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Marymount
Marymount University President Irma Becerra speaks during the 2021 Commencement Ceremonies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Marymount University Provost Hesham El-Rewini echoed those sentiments in his remarks, as he encouraged graduating Saints to reflect on their future roles in society and how they can make a difference in their desired career field.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis graduation ceremony comes at a time when we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel, after facing unprecedented challenges during the past 14 months,\u201d he said. \u201cThe fact that we are here together \u2013 in person, happy and celebrating your success should give us all hope that tomorrow will be better, brighter and full of possibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Marymount
Marymount University administrators and dignitaries during the 2021 Commencement Ceremonies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Addressing the College of Health and Education graduates as featured guest speaker and honorary degree recipient was James Dyke, Jr., Senior Advisor of State Government Relations at McGuireWoods Consulting<\/a> and Marymount University trustee. He has been a prominent figure in politics for over 30 years, previously serving as Virginia\u2019s Secretary of Education under Gov. Douglas Wilder and domestic policy advisor to former Vice President Walter Mondale.<\/p>\n

Stressing his personal commitment to education, Dyke shared how his grandfather taught in a one-room segregated school for four decades, while his mother and many aunts and cousins were also lifelong teachers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was raised with the certainty that education is the key to realizing dreams, even in an America of inequality, inequity and intolerance,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt is through education that we understand the world in which we live and are better capable of overcoming obstacles. I would not be standing here today but for the talent, dedication and inspiration of my teachers who gave fully of themselves to assure that this Black student received an excellent education, most notably while attending segregated schools \u2013 an education that enabled me to realize my dreams against all odds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Graduates
Graduates of Marymount University’s College of Health and Education celebrate their achievements<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

The following day, Saints received degrees during the Commencement for the College of Sciences and Humanities<\/a>, which celebrated students in the fields of humanities<\/a>, natural sciences and mathematics<\/a> and social and behavioral sciences<\/a>. Entrepreneur and philanthropist Sheila Johnson served as guest speaker and honorary degree recipient. Well-known for co-founding Black Entertainment Television (BET)<\/a> and becoming the first African-American woman to attain a net worth of $1 billion, Johnson is the Founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts<\/a> and the Vice Chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment<\/a>. She is also the only African-American woman to have ownership in three professional sports teams \u2013 the NBA\u2019s Wizards<\/a>, NHL\u2019s Capitals<\/a> and WNBA\u2019s Mystics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In her remarks, she told Saints that the obstacles and challenges they have faced because of the COVID-19 pandemic will benefit them as they enter the workforce.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe generations that came before you never fully knew what it\u2019s like to go to school virtually, to learn virtually, to interact with your teachers and classmates virtually and to try to virtually experience one of the most mind-altering and eye-opening times of anyone\u2019s life \u2013 but you do,\u201d Johnson told Marymount graduates. \u201cBelieve it or not, that\u2019s now a huge competitive advantage for you. Because like it or not, much of what you just experienced this year and what you now know\u2026the rest of us are still scrambling to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Members
Members of Marymount University’s Class of 2021 during the Commencement Ceremonies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

The final Class of 2021 ceremony on Sunday morning honored the graduates of the College of Business, Innovation, Leadership and Technology (BILT)<\/a>, who heard from guest speaker Donald Graham. The business leader previously received an honorary degree from Marymount when he was a commencement speaker in 1990 \u2013 this time around, he was presented with the Mother Gerard Phelan Gold Medal, which is awarded for achievements of an exemplary nature. Past recipients have included First Lady Nancy Reagan, Baroness Maria von Trapp and others.<\/p>\n

The Chairman of the Board for Graham Holdings Company<\/a> and former publisher of The Washington Post<\/a>, Graham\u2019s extensive experiences include serving on Facebook\u2019s Board of Directors and as trustee of the Federal City Council and Gates Policy Initiative. He also co-founded both the District of Columbia College Access Program<\/a> and TheDream.US<\/a>, the nation\u2019s largest college access and success program for DREAMers. Marymount is one of the program\u2019s founding partner colleges.<\/p>\n

\"Marymount
Marymount University graduates listen to speakers during the 2021 Commencement Ceremonies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

In Graham\u2019s speech to the Class of 2021, he encouraged graduates to move forward in their careers at their own pace and to not be discouraged by negative predictions about the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve read a lot about challenges your generation is supposed to face \u2013 you will be the first generation in American history to not do better than your parents, and so on. Do not believe a word of those predictions. The people doing the predicting almost certainly do not know what they are talking about,\u201d Graham said. \u201cI graduated from college in 1966 \u2013 was anyone at my college or anywhere predicting that by now, China would be the leading rising economic power in the world? They were not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI promise you, the world will change in unpredictable ways in your lifetime. Do not start out believing the pessimists. Making things change starts with believing they can change.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Graduates
Graduates from Marymount University’s College of BILT celebrate together following the ceremony<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

In addition to the three commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2021, Marymount University also held a separate event on Saturday afternoon, \u201cA Celebration for the Academic Year: 2019-2020 Graduates,\u201d in the Lee Center<\/a> on campus. This gave Marymount graduates from one year ago a special opportunity to still celebrate their academic achievement in an in-person format.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t seem that long ago, in my commencement address to you last year, when I described how the still-unfolding coronavirus pandemic may be one of the most impactful events in the 21st century. You, of course, experienced that firsthand \u2013 as due to restrictions at the time, we had to pivot to a virtual commencement ceremony last May,\u201d President Becerra said. \u201cWe know that format was not the preferred type of celebration, and that\u2019s why we made it a priority to hold an in-person event for our 2020 graduates as soon as we were able. Saints, this will always be your home.\u201d<\/p>\n

To watch livestreams of each of the three Class of 2021 commencement ceremonies, visit the Marymount University Facebook page<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

*An earlier version of this story included statistics on the number of students who attended commencement ceremonies, rather than the number of total degrees awarded. These references have been updated. After virtual ceremonies were held last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Marymount University was proud to once again offer in-person, outdoor commencement ceremonies for […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":9349,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[620,400,40,626,401,631,14,15,234,556,23],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMU commencement returns to in-person format, with 1,130 graduating students - Marymount University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"For the first time, Marymount's commencement ceremonies were organized by College, with undergraduate and graduate students included together.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/blog\/marymount-commencement-returns-to-in-person-format-with-more-than-620-graduating-students\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"MU commencement returns to in-person format, with 1,130 graduating students\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For the first time, Marymount's commencement ceremonies were organized by College, with undergraduate and graduate students included together.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/blog\/marymount-commencement-returns-to-in-person-format-with-more-than-620-graduating-students\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Marymount University\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-05-18T15:54:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-08-04T02:41:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"700\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"420\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"nmunson\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"nmunson\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/blog\/marymount-commencement-returns-to-in-person-format-with-more-than-620-graduating-students\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/blog\/marymount-commencement-returns-to-in-person-format-with-more-than-620-graduating-students\/\",\"name\":\"MU commencement returns to in-person format, with 1,130 graduating students - 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