St. Cloud State University’s official Spring 2021 Commencement took place on campus on May 7-8.
St. Cloud State celebrated Commencement for about 900 students, out of 1,350 total graduates, in a series of 10 Commencement ceremonies. Graduates come from 22 U.S. states and several countries. Participating in the Commencement ceremonies include 13 associate degree earners, 725 undergraduate students, 200 graduate students and 15 doctoral students.
Graduates earning Honors cords included 137 earning Summa Cum Laude, 142 earning Magna Cum Laude and 149 earning Cum Laude.
President Robbyn Wacker, Vice President Jason Woods and Provost Dan Gregory are among the faculty and staff who assisted with the ceremonies and celebration of graduates. Graduate and Student Government President Surkhel Yousafzai presented a student message.
“As we gather here today I see a graduating class from different walks of life and identities who semester after semester, day after day faced successfully the unknown and the unexpected,” Wacker said.
The countless hours of studying and sleepless nights have paid off and will continue to serve our graduates in the future, she said.
“You will continue to adapt and live into your greatness,” Wacker said. “You will create your greatness. Why? Because you are a graduate of St. Cloud State. I want to take this knowledge and share it with the world.”
In addition, students are receiving a package to help them celebrate their graduation.
The ceremonies were capped at 310 for each event with graduates limited to two guests each. With masks required, and physical distancing observed, the ceremony reflected the continued realities of graduating during COVID-19.
Many students invited family or friends as guests, and many graduates were able to return to SCSU, such as San Jose Sharks TV analyst and former St. Cloud State men’s hockey player Bret Hedican ’20 who achieved his goal of getting his diploma during the 11 a.m. ceremony on May 7.
Each 45-minute commencement ceremony began with faculty leading in the graduates into Ritsche Auditorium to the sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance.”
Woods delivered opening remarks and presented a video of messages submitted by the graduates, along with Gregory welcoming the class and both Wacker and Yousafzai also addressing the graduates at each of the ceremonies.
“Reflect on when you arrived to St. Cloud State University,” Woods said. “Although you might not have known it, our goal as an institution was to help you accomplish your mission of graduation.
“Our greatest sense of accomplishment in completing this mission is seeing the bright smiles of our proud graduating Huskies with their loved ones.”
Spring 2021 graduates are welcome to join in by posting their commencement and celebration photos and videos on social media and tagging @stcloudstate with the hashtag #SCSUGrad!
These ceremonies mark the 150th year since St. Cloud State’s first graduating class in 1871.
May 7
9 a.m. Ceremony – School of Health and Human Services
View the 9 a.m. May 7 ceremony
See photos from the 9 a.m. May 7 ceremony
11 a.m. Ceremony – School of Health and Human Services and University College
View the 11 a.m. May 7 ceremony
See photos from the 11 a.m. May 7 ceremony
1 p.m. Ceremony – School of Health and Human Services and College of Liberal Arts/School of the Arts
View the 1 p.m. May 7 ceremony
See photos from the 1 p.m. May 7 ceremony
3 p.m. Ceremony – College of Liberal Arts/School of the Arts and School of Public Affairs
View the 3 p.m. May 7 ceremony
See photos from the 3 p.m. May 7 ceremony
5 p.m. Ceremony – College of Liberal Arts/School of the Arts and School of Education
View the 5 p.m. May 7 ceremony
See photos from the 5 p.m. May 7 ceremony
7 p.m. Ceremony – School of Education
View the 7 p.m. May 7 ceremony
See photos from the 7 p.m. May 7 ceremony
May 8
9 a.m. Ceremony – College of Science and Engineering
View the 9 a.m. May 8 ceremony
See photos from the 9 a.m. May 8 ceremony
11 a.m. Ceremony – College of Science and Engineering and Herberger Business School
View the 11 a.m. May 8 ceremony
See photos from the 11 a.m. May 8 ceremony
1 p.m. Ceremony – College of Science and Engineering and Herberger Business School
View the 1 p.m. May 8 ceremony
See photos from the 11 a.m. May 8 ceremony
3 p.m. Ceremony – Herberger Business School
View the 3 p.m. May 8 ceremony
See photos from the 3 a.m. May 8 ceremony
