May 1, 2020

May 1, 2020 – Northland Community & Technical College will be hosting a virtual commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. The pre-recorded ceremony will feature addresses from the Deans of both East Grand Forks and Thief River Falls campuses, as well as President Dennis Bona.

“Our graduates have put in the time and effort to achieve their goals and we need to recognize their achievements perhaps now more than ever,” said Dr. Bona. “Graduation is a significant milestone and a cause for celebration. While this year’s ceremony will certainly look different, we hope to capture the same excitement and appreciation for our graduating class that we look forward to every year.”

Northland was forced to transform its graduation ceremony in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which is preventing schools across the country from holding in-person commencements. The virtual ceremony will include many of the traditional elements that make graduation such a special occasion for both graduates and the administration. The evening ceremony will include an opening processional featuring “Pomp and Circumstance,” the playing of the National Anthem, a welcome address, and the official conferring of academic degrees.

“In these challenging times, it’s so important to recognize and honor the positive things that are still happening all around us,” Bona said. “I am so grateful to our staff and commencement committees for all the incredible efforts they’ve put in to make this virtual ceremony truly meaningful and worthy of the work our graduates have put in during their time with us. I’m thrilled to be a part of it, and I invite our local communities to join us in a show of support that will be larger and more far reaching than usual thanks to the technology that is keeping us all connected.”

Friends, family members, and the general public are invited to attend Northland’s virtual ceremony, which will be streamed on the college’s website, Facebook, and YouTube channels.

Northland encourages graduates to share how they are watching and celebrating commencement by posting photos and videos on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and tagging #GoNorthland and #Northland2020.