Throughout the semester, graduates and faculty optimistically hoped for the return of an in-person commencement. However, as COVID cases spiked throughout the nation, Lipscomb made the call for December’s ceremony to yet again go full online.
Through this online format, faculty congratulated students and gave words of encouragement as their time at Lipscomb comes to a close.
“The world around you has been difficult: the worldwide pandemic, the disruption of your work, the transition to online learning, the greater demands of family and just getting through the day,” said Lipscomb President Randy Lowry to graduates on the livestreamed ceremony. “But in spite of all of those challenges you did it. We’ve congratulated you today because you deserve it.”
Lipscomb awarded 168 undergrad and 250 graduate degrees during the ceremony that echoed past traditions, including a reading of every graduate’s name, recorded messages from Lipscomb faculty and the signature sound of Nashville Pipes & Drums.
Among the names of graduates is Lipscomb’s first graduating class in the School of Physician Assistant Studies. The 33 students are making history as the first-ever graduates to receive the Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree from Lipscomb University.
In his final remarks, President Lowry expressed his hopes for the December 2020 grads by saying “I hope you leave with a sense of compassion for the world. Understanding how privileged you are, how rich you are, how educated you are, and how compassionate you can be for those that have not had those opportunities, I hope you leave with a sense of always doing, or at least trying to do the right thing whatever your circumstance.”