With the Class of 2020 watching from home with their families, Siena College leaders and friars met on campus for a Facebook-streamed ceremony to honor newly-minted graduates.
As the bells from Siena Hall rang out at 10AM on May 17, Fr. Mark Reamer '83, O.F.M., D.Min., vice president for mission and guardian of the Siena friary, opened the ceremony with a blessing:
“In this time of pandemic and social distance, we have much to grieve in our world, and yet today we have much to give thanks for in the gifts and talents of the class of 2020.
Good and gracious God, we invoke your Holy Spirit upon our graduates this morning, for we know you are with us in every moment of transition and change.”
“Today is no traditional graduation day by any means,” said Charles Seifert, Ph.D., interim vice president for academic affairs. “While we must delay our in-person celebration until it is safe to gather, we are still united in spirit and joined from locations across the globe to honor you and your many accomplishments that brought us to this day.”
Margaret E. Madden, Ph.D., interim president, virtually bestowed 757 bachelor’s degrees and 61 master’s degrees on the graduates.
“You will always be remembered as a special class for your commendable resilience in the face of extraordinary challenges.”
The College has tentatively scheduled an in-person commencement ceremony for Saturday, August 15 at the Times Union Center in Albany. Updates on plans will be available here.
All of Siena’s friars in residence sang “The Blessing of Saint Francis” for the new graduates to conclude the celebration.
