Niagara College offering special in-person day for Classes of 2020 and 2021 who got virtual ceremonies

Niagara | Niagara on the Lake | Welland | Education |

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Published September 16, 2022 at 2:29 pm

Members of the Niagara College graduating class of 2015, back when things were normal.

This may seem a little unusual but what’s normal when a pandemic is involved?

Niagara College is holding a special event aimed at the Classes of 2020 and 2021 which had to make due with virtual convocations, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

They are being invited back to the Welland campus, in person, for a special two-hour reunion with classmates on October 27 from 3 to 5 pm.

Interestingly while the Class of 2020 got frozen off campus in March of that year, they at least know what the grounds look like at the Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake campuses.

There are numerous 2021 graduates who never set foot on either.

The college says the doors will open at 2 pm “to allow alumni the opportunity to pose for photos prior to the event.”

At 3 pm., alumni will hear from College President Sean Kennedy, as well as prominent alumni alumnus Jason Ofield, President and CEO of Bulk Barn (Class of 2005), who will speak on the topic of resilience and leadership.

The College’s 100,000th graduate Emily Gushue (Class of 2021) is also scheduled to attend, in recognition of the special milestone that was marked at the Spring 2021 Virtual Convocation ceremonies.

A reception will follow, which will feature food from Niagara College’s School of Culinary Arts as well as local entertainment.

The college is emphasizing that this will not be a traditional convocation ceremony and will not include a ‘crossing of the stage’ as part of the formal program.

“This social event is an opportunity for alumni who attended virtual convocation ceremonies to return to campus and celebrate their achievement with their fellow graduates,” the college says.

Invitations to the reunion celebration will be distributed during the weeks ahead and each graduate will be invited to bring one guest. Alumni from 2020 and 2021 are encouraged to check their email for registration details.

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