Ever since a worldwide pandemic sent students home to study remotely in Spring 2020, schools around the globe have been trying to answer one big question. How do they honor their graduates if they can’t meet in person for their traditional commencement ceremony?

Social media channels and television news broadcasts across the United States have been flooded with videos of everything from socially distant ceremonies to drive-thru celebrations. Cleveland State Community College, realizing students completing their programs weren’t being honored in the way they originally hoped, wanted to step things up and make something worthy of the appreciation of the Class of 2020.

Airing July 31 at 5:30 p.m., Cleveland State will broadcast the 2020 Spring and Summer Virtual Commencement Ceremony. Watch the premier online at MyCS.CC/Graduation or on the college’s social media channels. A recording of the broadcast will remain online for viewing at any time after the debut Friday.

More than 450 graduates will be individually honored as their names are read aloud and honors earned are shared with the viewing audience. “This may be a virtual graduation ceremony, but we are genuinely proud of each and every one of our graduates,” said Dr. Bill Seymour, Cleveland State Community College President. 

Culture and Career Strategist and Motivational Speaker Derek Young will deliver the keynote address to the graduating class. Also addressing the online audience will be Dr. Flora W. Tydings, Chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents. An ensemble from Cleveland State’s Vocal Rhapsody performance group will sing the National Anthem and the college’s Alma Mater.

For information on the 2020 Spring and Summer Virtual Commencement Ceremony at Cleveland State, call 423-473-2341. Students are currently enrolled online and on-campus through the CSCC main campus in Cleveland, as well as CSCC’s Athens Center in Athens and Monroe County Center in Vonore. 

CSCC earned the Tennessee Board of Regent’s 2019 College Of The Year. CSCC directly serves Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, and Polk Counties in Tennessee. The College System of Tennessee is the state’s largest public higher education system, with 13 community colleges, 27 colleges of applied technology and the online TN eCampus serving more than 140,000 students.