Bay Path Celebrates Graduates in Virtual Style
Over 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students were celebrated in this live broadcast Commencement ceremony.
Longmeadow, MA — On Saturday, October 17, the Bay Path community celebrated what may be their most resilient graduates in recent history: the class of 2020. Although the celebration was viewed on screens instead of in person, and graduates were sent texts and Facebook comments of congratulations instead of hugs and high fives, it was an event to remember.
The ceremony - Bay Path’s 123rd - was held live on campus with a production team from Zasco Productions safely bringing the event to graduates, friends, and families all over the globe. A small group of Bay Path administrators, Board of Trustee members, and faculty members donned their celebratory commencement regalia to bring the event to life, delivering encouraging messages of hope and resilience to the 1,010 graduating students.
Six graduating seniors from the class of 2020 kicked off the ceremony with a moving virtual rendition of The National Anthem, followed by a special invocation of The Nipmuck Prayer delivered by Gentle Running Deer and Aprell Mumford ‘21, both members of the Mohawk tribe from the Iroquois Confederacy. Local dignitaries and faculty members gave virtual well-wishes, reminding the graduates of what they had to overcome to make it to this very moment. “I want you to take a moment to celebrate this moment because it represents the absolute joy that comes from completing a journey that once seemed overwhelming. I want you to celebrate achieving something that is life-changing,” shared Bay Path President Sandra J. Doran, J.D., in her welcoming remarks.
During the ceremony, two students received awards for their hard work and exemplary character. Traditional undergraduate student Lilly West received The Eagle Award for her positive attitude and community leadership on campus and in athletics, while maintaining a 3.5 or higher GPA. Karen Vecchitto, a nontraditional student at The American Women’s College, received The Pathfinder Award in honor of obtaining academic excellence of a GPA of 3.5 or higher while balancing her family life, career, and community service responsibilities.
After a benediction from Father Christopher J. Waitekus of St. Mary’s Church, Longmeadow, MA, the event ended with special remarks from the guests of honor - the graduates themselves. Over 50 graduates submitted videos thanking their family, friends, professors, and the Bay Path community for helping to make their success a reality. As one Bay Path graduate shared, “Special thanks to my friends, family, and BPU faculty. Congratulations 2020, we finally did it! It’s time to conquer this world - be great, not average!”
The full recording of Bay Path University’s 123rd commencement ceremony can be viewed at baypath.edu/commencement.
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About Bay Path University
Bay Path University was founded in 1897. With locations in Longmeadow (main), East Longmeadow (Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center), Springfield (MA), Sturbridge (MA), and Concord (MA), Bay Path’s innovative program offerings include traditional undergraduate degrees for women, The American Women's College on-ground and online, the first all-women, all-online accredited bachelor’s degree programs in the country; over 40 graduate programs for women and men, including doctoral degrees; and Strategic Alliances, offering professional development courses for individuals and organizations. Bay Path’s goal is to give students confidence in the fundamentals of their chosen field, the curiosity to question the ordinary, the leadership to show initiative, and the desire to make a difference.