PORTLAND, Ore. — Years of hard work will pay off for more than a thousand graduates from the University of Portland this weekend, but this year’s commencement ceremony is going to look a lot different.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, students are getting ready for virtual graduations instead of the traditional ceremonies they were all expecting just a couple of months ago.
At Portland State University, there is a petition circulating to delay the school’s virtual graduation, currently scheduled for June.
Debbie Kemp has two kids who will be graduating from PSU. She’s been trying to get in touch with the university to hold off this year’s commencement.
“The students are asking for PSU to postpone. They want the chance that they deserve (to) walk across the stage with their peers," said Kemp. She believes students have been working too hard to not celebrate graduation with their family and friends.
Soon-to-be University of Portland graduate Liz Judge said she's disappointed, but she’s trying to find the silver lining in all of this.
“My grandparents wouldn't have had been able to make it if they had to travel to Portland. I get to watch it with them on my couch,” she said.
The University of Oregon is planning to have a virtual graduation in June, while Oregon State University decided to postpone its commencement until possibly later this fall.