Congratulations to Our Graduating Class of 2020

by Lisa Carter, Vice Provost for Libraries and University Librarian

We have reached the end of the spring semester under the circumstances none of us could have imagined. While this pandemic has impacted our entire campus community, our 2020 graduates perhaps feel it the most. Graduation is something students and their families look forward to with anticipation – a chance to publicly celebrate their achievements with those to whom they are closest.

While those plans changed with the announcement that this year’s commencement would be virtual, our graduating students have proven once again their resilience, perseverance, and ability to meet challenges head-on. These students quickly adapted to remote instruction and committed to successfully finishing their final semester. They celebrated online with video messages, playlists, virtual backgrounds, and Jump Around at home. And I saw more than one car parade in downtown Madison this weekend!

They chose to overcome this extraordinary situation and make it a learning experience. These strengths will follow them as they embark on the next chapter of their lives, wherever it may take them.

Graduation is always a bittersweet time, as we bid farewell to our graduating students, particularly those who we have worked with side-by-side in the Libraries. We thank each of them for their many contributions both to the Libraries and across the university. 

To our 2020 graduates, congratulations! This is a significant achievement – be proud of everything you have accomplished. We’ll miss you but can’t wait to see what you’ll do next. It will be something great.

On, Wisconsin!