‘We really cherish it a lot more’: In-person commencement stirs emotions for Penn State graduates, families
Updated May 08, 2021;
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STATE COLLEGE The cork popped and echoed across the Old Main Lawn on Saturday morning, and cheers soon followed as a group celebrated its Penn State graduation. Though it was an overcast and sleepy morning that was interrupted by drizzle, there was a festive atmosphere around downtown State College on the second of Penn State’s three days of commencement ceremonies.
Graduates walked College Avenue in their gowns with their family members and ducked in and out of the establishments that defined their time as students at Penn State, coffees in hand. A line wrapped around Primanti Brothers into an alley. A little ways up Atherton Street, a long line formed outside of The Waffle Shop.
For the first time in two years, Penn State will recognize spring graduates through a number of in-person commencement ceremonies this weekend.
Starting on Friday, May 7, the university will hand out more than 14,000 diplomas to Penn State seniors throughout all its campuses. Soon-to-be-graduates and up to two guests each can
head to Beaver Stadium for in-person (albeit socially distanced) ceremonies that are scheduled rain or shine.
Here’s a brief breakdown of
University-Wide Virtual Ceremony
Not feeling up to head to Beaver Stadium? No problem. Penn State will stream a university-wide commencement celebration viewable for any and all folks at home