Colleges in Springfield salute graduates at virtual commencement ceremonies
Today 1:09 PM
Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper congratulated students as 1,162 degrees were given for different levels at 2021 Commencement. (Hoang Leon Nguyen / The Republican)(Hoang Leon Nguyen / The Repub
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SPRINGFIELD The second spring of the COVID-19 pandemic required local colleges and universities to again rely on virtual means for commencement ceremonies, as hundreds of undergraduate and graduate degrees were conferred this weekend by Springfield College, Western New England University and American International College.
Springfield College was an exception. Following a virtual opening ceremony on Friday night, the college was able to host eight separate in-person ceremonies, with reduced populations at each, over the weekend at Stagg Field. Western New England and AIC relied on virtual events Saturday and Sunday.
Springfield College Announces Plans for 2021 Commencement Ceremonies
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SPRINGFIELD Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper announced the college’s plans for the 2021 commencement ceremonies the weekend of May 14-16. The festivities will begin on Friday, May 14 with a virtual opening celebration streamed live starting at 6:30 p.m. Following Friday’s opening celebration, the college will host eight separate in-person ceremonies, four on Saturday, May 15 and four on Sunday, May 16, at Stagg Field on the Springfield College main campus. All ceremonies will be streamed live on
springfield.edu, including the in-person ceremonies on Saturday and Sunday.
“After such a challenging year, these celebrations are something to look forward to and a wonderful way to celebrate the accomplishments of our students,” Cooper said. “Student input in these decisions has been important and helpful, including responses to the survey and student-leader involvement on the commencemen
Beyond COVID: Expect a ‘click and mortar’ approach as colleges emerge from the pandemic
Posted Feb 16, 2021
Westfield State University professor Tarin Weiss teaches a geology class from her Westhampton home in December. (Don Treeger / The Republican file photo)
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When the coronavirus pandemic closed college campuses in March of 2020, administrators initially hoped that some normalcy would return by the fall semester.
That did not happen. Some schools that reopened dormitories had to shut them down again. Others did not reopen their campuses at all, continuing classes online.
Every pandemic in human history has ended, though, and as vaccines are distributed and visions of a COVID-free future are maintained, college officials are reviewing what was lost, learned and accomplished during the past year.
S. Prestley Blake ‘a giant of a man’ remembered for drive, energy by wife, Helen
Updated Feb 12, 2021;
Posted Feb 12, 2021
Helen Davis Blake and S. Prestley Blake at the Springfield College President s Gala at MGM Springfield on Oct. 26, 2019. (Ed Cohen photo)
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The drive that made S. Prestley Blake and the Friendly’s chain he founded with his brother, Curtis, in the depths of the Great Depression a success didn’t waiver, even in Blake’s final weeks.
“Pres was always in command, right up until the last minute,” his wife of 38 years, Helen, said Friday. “The most dreaded words every morning were ‘I have an idea’.”