The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh alumni family grows by nearly another 1,500 come May 15 with the arrival of the 147th spring commencement.
In some ways, the occasion is returning to a format similar to many commencement ceremonies over the years, with graduates coming together on campus to celebrate their achievements with friends and family. Yet the reality of the pandemic remains, meaning there are a few new twists to how the events traditionally are held.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s to come:
What: UW Oshkosh’s 147th spring commencement
Date: Saturday, May 15
Times: Ceremonies begin at 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Where: Kolf Sports Center, 785 High Ave., Oshkosh
Ceremony breakdown:
- 8 a.m.: All doctoral, associate of arts and science, bachelor of applied studies and bachelor of liberal studies degree candidates
- 11 a.m.: College of Business undergraduate and master’s degree candidates; and College of Letters and Science undergraduate candidates receiving bachelor of arts, fine arts, music and social work degrees
- 2 p.m.: College of Letters and Science master’s degree candidates; and bachelor of science undergraduate candidates
- 5 p.m.: College of Nursing undergraduate and master’s degree candidates; College of Education and Human Services undergraduate and master’s degree candidates
Speakers: Each ceremony will feature one student speaker.
- 8 a.m.: Arielle Tenor ’18, of Luxemburg is graduating with a doctor of nursing practice.
- 11 a.m.: Brett Spangler of Oshkosh is graduating magna cum laude, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a double major in accounting and information systems.
- 2 p.m.: Dakota Swank of Byron, Minnesota is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science.
- 5 p.m.: Carter Uslabar of Appleton graduates with a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism and a minor in English.
Class stats: The latest round of UWO grads includes the awarding of more than 1,200 bachelor’s degrees, 200 master’s degrees, 157 associate degrees and more than 40 doctorates. They join the nearly 100,000 Titan alumni making an impact worldwide.
Noteworthy: Along with these spring 2021 graduates, there will be spring 2020 and winter 2021 grads in the mix. Those would be grads who missed out on an in-person ceremony due to the pandemic and opted to walk this time around.
Safety protocols: Face coverings are required and social distancing guidelines will be followed. Each graduate is able to invite up to four guests and attendance is limited to those with tickets. There will be no procession, the platform party will be limited and all music will be prerecorded.
How to watch: For those not headed to Kolf, the ceremonies will be livestreamed.
Final thought: Congratulations to the class of 2021!
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