A Virtual Celebration
To honor the 2020 graduates of Rutgers University–New Brunswick and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Rutgers streamed a virtual celebration on May 31, culminating the successful completion of a spring semester despite the COVID-19 pandemic that required remote instruction. President Robert Barchi presided over the ceremony and conferred degrees during Rutgers’ 254th Anniversary Commencement celebration, which featured NBC News anchor Lester Holt delivering an address. Rutgers University–Newark and Rutgers University–Camden, as well as schools and colleges across the university, also hosted virtual ceremonies in May, with plans to hold in-person celebrations as conditions permit. “In this time of uncertainty, celebrating graduation is more important than ever,” said Barchi, “because it brings us together to recognize achievements with a sense of pride and admiration, even amidst social distancing.”