On March 4, President Wippman sent an email to the Class of 2021 with information regarding an in-person Commencement ceremony. Currently, the College plans to hold the event on Saturday, May 22. However, a recent increase in availability of the COVID-19 vaccine in New York state could potentially change the Ceremony plans.
As of right now, the College intends to limit attendees to graduating seniors and invited speakers. Seniors studying remotely will have the opportunity to join their peers in person, likely after a quarantine and testing process. Although students would like to have their family and friends in attendance for the celebration, the College must adhere to the current New York state COVID-19 guidelines. However, the guidelines are subject to change in the coming weeks leading up to Commencement. President Wippman has assured the seniors that the attendance limitations could change with loosening state restrictions on college-based activities. For now, the Commencement ceremony will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.
The College has announced two speakers to address the graduates during the ceremonies. Military historian and author Ty Seidule, the Chamberlain Fellow and Visiting Professor of History will deliver the Commencement address. Sports agent and attorney Mason Ashe, a 1985 Hamilton graduate and charter trustee, will give the Baccalaureate address on Friday, May 21 at 4:00 p.m.
Despite the changes to a more traditional Commencement, seniors understand the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and seem grateful for the chance to celebrate in person. Matthew Knowlton ’21 feels that “it’s a pleasant surprise that we will be having a ceremony at all, and of course I am sad that my family can’t come and see it, but I’d rather them and everyone here stay safe.”
Recently, all Hamilton students have become eligible to receive their first dose under updated New York state guidelines. The College continues to provide students with transportation to different vaccination centers as well as administering doses through Faxton St. Luke’s Health on campus. The College will continue to monitor the New York State guidelines and change the plans accordingly.
A recent email from the Commencement Planning Committee confirmed that its members are trying to keep the ceremony plans as flexible as possible. While preparing for any changes, the Committee has kept seniors in the loop, asking them to weigh in on the process. A recent survey asked the Class of 2021 if they preferred the original plan, a single in-person ceremony with no outside guests, or three separate ceremonies with up to two outside guests. Seniors are still waiting to hear the results of the survey.
Members of the Senior Class Planning Committee are working closely with Lisa Magnarelli and the President’s Office to plan Commencement and other events. Gianni Hill ’21 confirms that “things are changing by the day…the vaccine rollout is advancing a lot faster than originally anticipated, which is very helpful in keeping case numbers down on campus.” However, “the event will likely look the same, regardless of how many seniors get vaccinated. We will still have to sit six feet apart and wear masks. There are still a lot of unknowns at this time…so we are not sure what will still be mandated or encouraged by May.”
Both the Senior Class Planning Committee and Hamilton administration have spent a lot of time working to ensure that the seniors’ last semester on campus is memorable, despite the restrictions that come with COVID-19. In fact, President Wippman also announced a plan to have a somewhat modified Senior Week, a time normally spent enjoying various activities on campus by the graduating class. The senior class will be on the lookout for more information in the coming weeks.
