Tears and Hugs Mark Long-Awaited Class of 2020 Commencement Celebration

The University of Massachusetts Amherst  on Nov. 7, 2021 held a long-awaited, in-person Class of 2020 undergraduate commencement ceremony, which had been delayed for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 1,200 members of the Class of 2020 returned to campus to celebrate with family and friends.

In an emotional event that honored the achievements and resilience of the class, Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy told the graduates that they made history as the only class in the university’s nearly 160-year history to return to campus as alumni to attend their own Commencement ceremony. 

The keynote address was delivered by Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Associate Justice and alumnus David A. Lowy ’83. Student Speaker Grace Jung ’20 of Newton, who graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, reminded the graduates that they have the tools necessary to navigate the post-graduate world.

Faculty Speaker Wilmore Webley ’00 MS, ’03 Ph.D., associate professor of microbiology and associate dean for inclusion and engagement in the Graduate School, told the class they were inspiring. 

The ceremony also included remarks by UMass Trustee Mary Burns as well as recognition of the 21st Century Leaders and the Jack Welch Scholars. Face masks and observation of other current UMass COVID-19 protocols were required at the indoor event at the Mullins Center.

The approximately 6,600 graduates in the Class of 2020 were honored in May 2020 with a virtual celebration that featured salutes from nearly 30 prominent public and political figures, including actor Ben Affleck, TV host and political commentator Rachel Maddow, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Gov. Charlie Baker, and U.S. Representatives Jim McGovern, Richard Neal and Ayanna Pressley. 

To view more photos from the ceremony, visit the UMass Amherst Facebook page.