Asbury University to host virtual commencement for Class of 2020

Published 4:03 pm Thursday, October 15, 2020

The Asbury University Class of 2020 will experience commencement in a new way at noon on Saturday, Oct. 17.

While it will look different than previous years, excitement is growing for AU’s first virtual commencement. 

University President Kevin J. Brown will deliver the commencement address, followed by school deans reading each graduate’s name aloud for the ceremonial conferring of degrees.

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After the ceremony, Brown and the provost, Timothy Wooster, will join graduates in a private Zoom gathering to celebrate together.

Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Asbury University postponed commencement from May to October with the intent of holding an in-person event on campus. 

Given the ongoing pandemic and Kentucky’s current red status, the administration announced the difficult decision to move the event online on Sept. 1. 

In announcing the change, Brown said, “Unfortunately, and with great disappointment, we cannot responsibly host a gathering the size of commencement because of the COVID-19 threat to our community. It is heartbreaking when we think of all the things the Class of 2020 has lost and we pray that this virtual ceremony will honor them in a special way.” 

AU friends and family are welcome to join the watch party on Asbury University’s official Instagram account. 

The link to the commencement ceremony video can be found on www.asbury.edu/commencement or on Asbury University’s YouTube page. 

For more information on Asbury University, visit www.asbury.edu.