Tri-C to Honor Spring Graduates With Virtual Celebration on May 14

Nearly 2,500 petitioning graduates will be recognized during online event

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C^®) will recognize the academic achievements and determination of nearly 2,500 petitioning graduates this week during a virtual celebration in their honor.

Tri-C’s first online ceremony for graduates begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 14. The event will be streamed on the College’s Facebook page, YouTube channel and SmartTV cable broadcast stations.

Restrictions on large gatherings due to the COVID-19 outbreak forced the College to adjust plans for a traditional commencement ceremony.

“Like any graduation, this is a defining moment in the lives of our students,” Tri-C President Alex Johnson said. “This class has persevered through a challenging time. Now, they will take the resilience and courage they demonstrated at Tri-C and use it to make their mark on the world.”

The virtual celebration will feature videos from students, congratulatory messages from faculty and remarks from College leadership. The names of all 2,470 petitioning graduates will scroll across the screen.

This week’s virtual celebration will take place at the same time and date of the originally scheduled in-person Spring Commencement. It is the first of two events being held to honor this class of graduates.

The College also plans to gather spring graduates Dec. 16 for a traditional commencement so that they can experience the excitement and emotion of a formal cap-and-gown event. (The ceremony will be separate from Tri-C’s Fall Commencement, scheduled for Dec. 17.)

Graduates are also receiving yard signs to draw attention to their accomplishments. In addition, Cleveland’s Terminal Tower will glow in Tri-C teal from 7 p.m. to midnight Friday, May 15, in honor of the Class of 2020.

May 12, 2020

John Horton, 216-987-4281 john.horton@tri-c.edu