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Plymouth State University holds in-person commencement ceremony for 2020 and 2021 classes

The ceremony was outside and the school said COVID-19 precautions were taken.

Plymouth State University held an in-person commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021.

The ceremony was outside and the school said COVID-19 precautions were taken.

“It was really nice to finally have this day happen after waiting a very long time,” said 2020 graduate Leo Shattuck.

Plymouth State University said around 800 students participated in the outdoor ceremony, 600 from the Class of 2021 and over 200 from the Class of 2020.

Everyone was required to have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the event, masks were work and social distance was in place.

Plymouth State University President Donald Birx’s sister, Dr. Deborah Birx, the former White House Coronavirus Response coordinator was the keynote speaker focused on students’ strong resiliency during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“You have a resilience that you learned and grew and now will give back for the rest of your adulthood,” Dr. Birx said.

When walking on stage, president Birx and Dr. Birx offered students the option of shaking hands, fist bumps, elbow bumps or simply walking by. Many chose handshakes and the students we spoke with said they’re fully vaccinated and overall felt good about the day.

“For the first time in a while I kinda forgot that we were living in the world that we are living in with COVID right now,” said 2021 graduate Denny Ruprecht.