Note: This message was originally sent on May 10, 2020
While Mother’s Day weekend – at Gonzaga – is traditionally filled with commencement celebrations and proud family gatherings, the Gonzaga community is not mourning what might have been. Instead, we are focused on how to make the present moment impactful for our students, while maintaining an eye toward the future! And, in case you hadn’t heard, graduation ceremonies for our 2020 graduates have been rescheduled to take place on campus, Sept 4-6 (Labor Day weekend).
Even with the delay of the formal commencement ceremonies, numerous virtual celebrations took place this past week – allowing for students and their families to come together to commemorate specific achievements and awards received. Colleagues across campus, alumni, parents and friends have been working hard to make sure our 2020 grads know that the Gonzaga family is very proud and eager to support them – this weekend, and in the coming weeks and months.
Just a few examples of efforts underway, and an opportunity or two for you to help celebrate this remarkable class:
- Dr. McCulloh extended congratulatory remarks to the class on Friday: A Message to Gonzaga University's 2020 Graduates from President McCulloh
- Please extend words of congrats and wisdom to our grads by submitting a note here: “GradGrams”These messages are being shared with our graduates now, in the coming days and will be compiled for a special surprise for them as we build toward the actual ceremonies in the fall.
- Senior families are being asked to record a short video that is then emailed to their senior.
- In the coming days, our new “class of alumni” will be hearing about many opportunities the University has in place to support them in their next steps – a few examples:
- A New Alumni Scholarship for Graduate School has been created for alumni to pursue graduate studies at GU
- We will launch an Alumni Mentor Match Challenge - a broad campaign to encourage alumni connections to seniors and build on our ZagsConnect programming. All Seniors and Grad students will be offered a career mentor to partner with them through the months ahead.
Gonzaga – our community, our grads – have weathered every storm with our mission intact: educate students who are committed to becoming the ethical leaders our world needs most, who live by the values of faith, justice and service for the common good. Steadied by support from families like yours, this mission is more critical now than ever before. As we celebrate our class of 2020, please know we are incredibly grateful for the role each of you have played in helping propel them to this moment, especially during such a challenging spring semester.
Wishing all the mothers in this network and in your families a very peaceful and happy day. Happy Mother’s Day! And cheers to the Class of 2020!