University to grant about 700 degrees Aug. 15

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln will confer about 700 degrees during a virtual graduation celebration Aug. 15.

Go Big Grad: A Husker Graduation Celebration will begin streaming at 9 a.m. here. No registration is required. All undergraduate, master’s, professional, doctoral and College of Law graduates, as well as their families and friends, are invited to join.

The celebration will feature the address, “The Air Between Us …” from Marilyn Moore, retired associate superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools and past president of the Bryan College of Health Sciences. Moore has spent more than 40 years in education as a teacher and administrator. She has received numerous community and educational awards, including the Outstanding Alumni Award from Nebraska’s College of Education and Human Sciences. Moore has served on many community boards, including as president of the Lincoln Food Bank, president of the Lied Center Advisory Board and member of the Chancellor’s Alumni Advisory Committee. She has earned three degrees from Nebraska: a bachelor’s degree in 1971, master’s degree in education and human sciences in 1974, and doctoral degree in educational administration in 1980.

The celebration will also include appearances by special guests. At the end of the event, Chancellor Ronnie Green will officially confer degrees to students. Graduates will receive a complimentary mortarboard or tam in a box delivered before the event, allowing them to turn their tassels together as a class.

Graduates can celebrate the day by sharing their customized digital slide (available at the commencement website beginning Aug. 15), hosting a virtual watch party with loved ones or using the hashtag #GoBigGrad on social media.

“Nebraska takes great pride in offering our students a welcoming, personal educational experience, and our commencement ceremonies are an extension of that,” said Vanessa Gorman, professor of history and chair of the university’s commencement committee. “We have one of the highest rates of attendance nationally — around 83% — so while it’s a disappointment to all of us that we can’t share this celebration in person, we want to provide students the closest thing to it.”

Diplomas will be mailed to graduates after Aug. 15. New this year, 2020 graduates are able to download and share their digital diplomas. Details are available here.

All 2020 graduates are invited to participate in a future in-person commencement ceremony.

“We absolutely want to welcome all of these graduates to return in the future, once campus is reopened, to walk across the stage in cap and gown and have that once-in-a-lifetime moment to share with their friends and family,” Gorman said.

For more information on the Go Big Grad celebration, as well as social media stickers, virtual backgrounds, sharable graphics and a special Spotify playlist, click here. Questions can be emailed to commencement@unl.edu.