The Critical Nature of Commencement: Why Graduation Matters Amid COVID-19 Crisis

April 4, 2020  |  Beth Blume, Abby Rennicke

Education

The pride. The nostalgia. The accomplishment. The excitement. The connection. The hope.

The act of college commencement represents the culmination of one of the most significant periods of transformation in a person’s life.  It compiles a unique blend of emotions that are years, even generations, in the making.  As a result of the current crisis we are facing, this pinnacle moment in time is now being stripped away.

During these extraordinary and tumultuous times, we are all feeling the effects. However, few will feel them as deeply as the class of 2020. To students and their families, commencement is a critical, not merely complimentary, piece of the college experience that acknowledges accomplishments of the past, inspires accomplishments of the future, and is a powerful bridge between the two.

These moments cannot simply pass and be lost forever. They matter. The impact is salient for the graduates and will have a lasting effect on their relationships with their alma maters.

Learn more about why the acts of commencement extend far beyond simply receiving a diploma for students and their families.

Interested in discussing commencement ideas that will create lasting memories for your 2020 grads? We would love to talk. Email us at [email protected].

Download the Report

................................................

is Director, Insights & Planning at BVK

................................................

Abby Rennicke is a Senior Brand Strategist at BVK

Get updates from The Current

Which topics interest you?

Public Service
Travel & Tourism
Healthcare
Education
Recreation & Lifestyle
Consumer & Retail
Financial Services
Thinking Big
Submit

More from The Current

April 29, 2025

Travel Insights: Cleansing Escapes

Cleansing Escapes: The Rise of Wellness Travel in Uncertain Times Even when the world pauses, the desire to explore never fad...

March 11, 2025

Putting Your Brand to Work: Retention and Student Engagement

In the “Putting Your Brand to Work” blog series, I’ll explore four of the most important uses of brand in higher educat...

February 27, 2025

CMOs: The New Growth Architects—Maximizing Marketing’s Impact Beyond Brand

Marketing Isn’t a Cost Center. If It Is, You’re Being Left Out of Key Growth Conversations. Let’s be real—healthcare ...

February 11, 2025

Putting Your Brand to Work: Fundraising

In the “Putting Your Brand to Work” blog series, I’ll explore four of the most important uses of brand in higher educat...

January 29, 2025

Top Topics 2025

As our world constantly changes, various consumer trends rise to the top of culture. Creativity seems to dissipate in favor o...

January 28, 2025

Living on a Content Marketing Fault Line

The past 3 months have been a social media wake-up call. Hope you didn’t sleep through the alarm. Since the election, w...

January 27, 2025

Keeping it Human While Embracing AI

Few developments have surged as rapidly as artificial intelligence (AI), which now stands as the top priority and major conce...

January 14, 2025

Putting Your Brand to Work: Student Recruitment

In the “Putting Your Brand to Work” blog series, I’ll explore four of the most important uses of brand in higher educat...

January 10, 2025

Social Media’s New Nomadic Norm

As marketers, we’re going to have to adapt to users treating social media platforms like alliances on the new era of Su...