KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo Valley Community College will be holding a virtual commencement ceremony this weekend to honor 515 new graduates.
The school announced that the live-streamed event will take place beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 26th, featuring a commencement address by College President L. Marshall Washington with additional speeches by students and faculty.
Pre-recorded speeches by faculty member Jason Bishop, Board of Trustees Chairman Jeffrey Patton, and nursing student Elizabeth Odeyemi will also be played during the ceremony.
Staff and faculty members will also sing together during the live-stream to mark the occasion.
KVCC has suspended in-person classes and activities in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including its annual commencement ceremony.
Community college officials said in a released statement that while a physical ceremony will not happen, they wanted to hold a digital event honoring graduates to recognize their accomplishments.
“Their achievement is particularly impressive because they accomplished this milestone during one of the most unprecedented times in our nation’s history,” said Washington in the statement.
Winter semester graduates will still be able to walk during the next commencement ceremony held in December 2020.
