HANCOCK There were no hugs or handshakes (though fist bumps and elbow bumps were OK).
Masked and socially distanced, 63 Finlandia University graduates were able to celebrate with an in-person commencement Thursday night, the first to be held in the university’s Hirvonen College of Health Sciences Auditorium.
Delivering the student address was Ramona Kuhn, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in ceramics.
The St. Cloud, Minnesota, native graduated with a 4.0. She participated in student leadership programs and community services activities, and also studied abroad in Florence, Italy. She combined ceramics skills and a drive to serve in her 2019 Illuminarie Mug Project a limited series of 100 cups to raise awareness for suicide prevention after losing a high school classmate to suicide.
Jordan Shawhan
HANCOCK Thursday, Apr. 29 marked a historic day in the timeline of Finlandia University. For the first time in two years, students were able to feel the jubilation of walking across the stage on graduation day, diploma in hand. More than a century old, the university once again brought forth the perseverance, commitment and dedication that some call sisu and others call Finlandia.
Prior to the commencement ceremony, a baccalaureate worship service was held at the Finnish American Heritage Center. Reverend Sarah Semmler Smith led the worship service and Dr. Philip Johnson, Finlandia President, led the Prayers of Intercession.
Finlandia University
HANCOCK Finlandia University President Philip Johnson gave an update to community partners on Wednesday, Feb. 3, on the state of campus. Dr. Johnson, in partnership with other university leaders, talked with a group of community leaders about a number of different topics including the progress on the new Hirvonen College of Health Sciences Building renovation and the return to class for Spring 2021.
Dean of Students Erin Barnett provided an update on the university’s return to campus plan for Spring 2021 and talked about the effectiveness of the baseline testing for COVID-19. All students and employees were tested prior to the start of in-person classes, and three asymptomatic off-campus students and one on-campus student was identified through baseline testing and quarantined so as to stop the spread.