Minnesota State University celebrates spring graduates
MANKATO, Minn.– Minnesota State University, Mankato celebrated its 2021 spring semester student commencement providing graduates “commencement-in-a-box” packages and personalized photo opportunities on a graduation stage while holding a virtual ceremony and launching a special website.
Among those honored were several Solon students: Logan Linderbaum received an AA in Liberal Studies, Abigail Rickels received a GC in Taxation and a MACC in Accounting with Summa Cum Laude honors.
The three traditional commencement ceremonies scheduled for Saturday were cancelled in March because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, graduates were invited to take part in a “graduate walk,” an in-person professional photo opportunity on campus the week of May 3-5, in the Centennial Student Union Ballroom to celebrate with their guests.
“We’re disappointed that we are not able to hold in-person commencement ceremonies again this spring,” said Minnesota State Mankato President Richard Davenport. “We remain dedicated to keeping our campus and community safe during the pandemic. But we are celebrating our graduates and their accomplishments throughout the week. The ‘grad walks’ allow students to wear their graduation regalia, walk across a stage and have a professional photo taken with their family and friends. A special virtual ceremony will be held Saturday, and we invite all of our graduates back to participate in an in-person commencement ceremony in the future.”
The “commencement-in-a-box” packages were presented to graduates after their “graduate walk” or were shipped to graduates. Included inside the purple-and-gold branded boxes were a diploma cover, two commencement programs, small branded gifts for the graduates and a personalized note from Davenport.
The University launched its virtual graduation website, https://mankato.mnsu.edu/mavgrad, at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 8. The website includes videos from Davenport and commencement speeches from graduating seniors representing each of the university’s six colleges. The website includes the names of each graduate and a graduation photo gallery where photos are shared graduates, faculty and staff tagged with #MavGrad2021.
Minnesota State Mankato awarded more than 2,200 degrees at the end of spring semester. Included were more than 1,870 undergraduate degrees and more than 370 graduate degrees and specialist certifications.
More information about the Minnesota State Mankato spring 2021 commencement is available at https://mankato.mnsu.edu/mavgrad.
Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive university with 14,604 students, is part of the Minnesota State system, which includes 30 colleges and seven universities.