Notre Dame College continues to celebrate its Class of 2020 and honors students from the past academic year, now through U.S. mail.
The College is sending each of its nearly 200 bachelor’s and master’s degree graduates their official diploma and diploma covers with the Notre Dame seal to their home addresses. The students also will receive two copies of commemorative print programs for them and their families, a graduation cap tassel and a celebratory glass stein emblazoned with their Notre Dame alumni designation, among other remembrances of a “most unusual academic year in history [that] is a testament to your perseverance, adaptability, courage and fortitude,” said Notre Dame President J. Michael Pressimone, Ed.D., in a letter to the graduates included in the keepsake program.
The commemorative graduation program features the names, majors and degrees of each graduate, along with each student who earned an honors award or honor society distinction this year, as well as the letter from the new Notre Dame president, written with John P. Galovic, Ed.D., former interim president at the College who helped shepherd the class through much of the past academic year. All the College’s academic award honorees are included in the program as well.
While neither the commencement nor honors ceremony were conducted as usual, the College is expected to gather together later this year to congratulate these graduates in person.
The Notre Dame Division of Nursing also sent a care package to new nursing graduates. The president of the College’s Student Nursing Association Macie Snyder created a card that faculty, staff and students signed for the seniors. Each student’s nursing pin, an 8×10 photo of their graduating class and a “Graduating Senior Survival Kit” of snacks also was included.
Commencement Ceremony
While the College was unable to celebrate its 96th commencement in person as a Notre Dame family as planned on May 9 due to the worldwide COVID-19 epidemic, the College officially conferred degrees for the Class of 2020 in a video ceremony in Christ the King Chapel.
In addition to bestowing Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Education, Master or Arts and Master of Science in Nursing degrees, some of which were completed online while most earned by graduates onsite, Notre Dame conferred its first Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies degree this year.
“Dr. John Galovic and I want you to know how appreciative we are of your ability to respond to an unprecedented international crisis, the likes of which this world has not seen in recent history,” Pressimone wrote in the statement. “We believe that your preparation for the unexpected has been the result of, at least in part, your Notre Dame College experience.”
Honors Convocation
In the commemorative mailing, the College also highlighted more than 50 students, not all seniors, who would have been recognized for exemplary academic achievement in Notre Dame’s spring Honors Convocation if not for the pandemic.
More than 30 academic scholarships, endowed honors and other awards were awarded to students in the College’s five academic divisions as part of its Honors recognition this year.
New members of academic honor societies on campus for business, management, administration, nursing and education also appear in the Honors Convocation section of the commemorative print piece.
Online Celebrations
The 96th conferral ceremony and other special presentations created specifically for the graduating class are available on the College website at NotreDameCollege.edu/academics/graduation/.
Videos include personal thoughts about graduating seniors and the important roles they are now prepared to accept in making the world a better place from Pressimone. Galovic shares his observations, and College faculty and staff offer their good wishes to members of the graduating class.
June 2020
About Notre Dame College
For almost a century, Notre Dame College has educated a diverse population in the liberal arts for personal, professional and global responsibility. Founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1922, the College has grown strategically to keep pace with the rapidly changing needs of students and the dramatic changes in higher education. But it has never lost sight of its emphasis on teaching students not only how to make a good living but also how to live a good life.
Today, the College offers bachelor’s degrees in 30 disciplines plus a variety of master’s degrees, certification programs and continuing and professional development programs for adult learners on campus and online. Notre Dame College offers NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletic programs for men and women and is located in a picturesque residential neighborhood just 25 minutes from the heart of Cleveland. Hallmarks of the Notre Dame experience include stimulating academics, personalized attention of dedicated faculty and staff, and small class sizes.
Notre Dame College is located at 4545 College Road in South Euclid. For further information contact pr@ndc.edu.