THUNDER BAY - One of the highlights of anyone’s academic career is crossing the stage to receive a diploma, and while graduating students at Confederation College will be doing so virtually this year, it is still important to acknowledge all their hard work, especially during a year unlike any other.
“I think it’s wonderful,” said Luisa Di Biagio, a graduate of the developmental service workers program and recipient of the SUCCI/OASA Student Leadership Award.
“Like the saying goes, it’s better than nothing and even then you get to watch convocation on a program on TV and have your closest family members with you instead of in the stands.”
This year there are more than 2,100 graduates of Confederation College and on Friday, approximately 1,000 attended a virtual convocation ceremony, 800 from this year and 200 from last year.
“It feels great,” said Confederation College president, Kathleen Lynch. “Last year we did just a very modified award winner presentation. At least this is similar to having a formal grad and being able to acknowledge the hard work of our students.”
Lynch added that it’s important to highlight the success of their students, who have had a rather challenging year due to the pandemic.
“We have students from all over the country, from all over the world,” she said. “It’s such a special day and it’s very difficult for them not to have their families see their accomplishments or cross the stage, but this is the next best thing we could do to actually feature them and acknowledge them.”
Di Biagio and Tyrell Monias, who graduated from the Aboriginal community advocacy program, were selected to take part in a small in-person ceremony with Lynch Friday morning before the formal convocation.
“It feels surreal. I’m excited, I’m honoured,” Di Biagio said. “I feel like I’m walking on cloud nine.”
“It’s definitely a privilege,” Monias added. “Most students don’t have the privilege to be in a ceremony with the pandemic. But we do have an online one and I look forward to that as well.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most classes were moved online, which did present some challenges, but Di Biagio and Monias said it was something they and their fellow students were able to overcome.
“We had to go online. That was a new challenge students had to face,” Monias said. “Apart from not going to classroom and not having regular services available at the college, we were able to overcome that because we are here graduating.”
“It was a little bittersweet,” Di Biagio added. “I was fortunate enough to have a great group of classmates, also my coordinators were above and beyond. They went out of their way to make sure we didn’t struggle during the pandemic. I felt supported.”
Both Di Biagio and Monias said they would be happy to return next year for an in-person convocation to celebrate their success alongside fellow classmates and teachers.
“Obviously next year could be a very long graduation face to face if everyone decides to come and participate, but we will accommodate whoever wants to attend,” Lynch said. “I think students need a way to commemorate their work this year.”
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