MANKATO, MINNESOTA (May 11, 2021) — Minnesota State University, Mankato celebrated its 2021 spring semester student commencement by providing graduates "commencement-in-a-box" packages and personalized photo opportunities last week on a graduation stage while holding a virtual ceremony and launching a special website beginning at 8AM, Saturday, May 8.
HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME, DEGREE, MAJOR (if listed), HONOR (if listed)
Bettendorf, IA
Brynn Hancock, BS, Elementary Education, Magna Cum Laude
Coal Valley, IL
Ashton Lee, MS, Communication Disorders, Summa Cum Laude
Davenport, IA
Meredith Cox, BS, Biology, Magna Cum Laude
Rock Island, IL
Zachary Golz, BS, Social Studies Teaching, Cum Laude
Wilton, IA
Victoria Roth, BFA, Art, Summa Cum Laude
The three traditional commencement ceremonies scheduled for Saturday were cancelled in March because of the COVID-10 pandemic. However, graduates were invited to take part in a "graduate walk," an in-person professional photo opportunity on campus last week (May 3-5), in the Centennial Student Union Ballroom to celebrate with their guests.
"We're disappointed that we are not able to hold in-person commencement ceremonies again this spring," said Minnesota State Mankato President Richard Davenport. "We remain dedicated to keeping our campus and community safe during the pandemic. But we are celebrating our graduates and their accomplishments throughout the week. The ‘grad walks’ allow students to wear their graduation regalia, walk across a stage, and have a professional photo taken with their family and friends. A special virtual ceremony will be held Saturday, and we invite all of our graduates back to participate in an in-person commencement ceremony in the future."
The "commencement-in-a-box" packages were presented to graduates after their "graduate walk" or were shipped to graduates. Included inside the purple-and-gold branded boxes were a diploma cover, two commencement programs, small branded gifts for the graduates, and a personalized note from Davenport.
The University launched its virtual graduation website, https://mankato.mnsu.edu/mavgrad, at 8AM, Saturday, May 8. The website includes videos from Davenport and commencement speeches from graduating seniors representing each of the University's six colleges. The website includes the names of each graduate and a graduation photo gallery where photos will be shared that graduates, faculty, and staff tag with #MavGrad2021.
Pre-recorded student commencement speeches were delivered by Lydia Prior, Sioux City, Iowa, College of Arts and Humanities; Jacqueline Asplund, Jonkoping, Sweden, College of Science, Engineering and Technology; Riya Arora, Delhi, India, College of Allied Health and Nursing; Laki Omar, Chaska, Minnesota, College of Education; Kwadwo Owusu, Shakopee, Minnesota, College of Business; and Marilyn Allen, Flandreau, South Dakota, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Minnesota State Mankato awarded more than 2,200 degrees at the end of spring semester. Included were more than 1,870 undergraduate degrees and more than 370 graduate degrees and specialist certifications.
Advanced degrees awarded by Minnesota State Mankato at the conclusion of the spring semester included six doctor of education degrees and two doctor of school psychology degrees.
Graduate degrees awarded included 65 master of arts degrees, twelve master of accounting degrees, one master of arts in teaching degrees, fifteen master of business administration degrees, thirteen master of fine arts degrees, one master of public administration degrees, 190 master of science degrees, six master of science in nursing degrees, three professional science master's degree, and fifteen specialists in educational leadership degrees.
Degrees awarded at the undergraduate level included 57 bachelor of arts degrees, 33 bachelor of fine arts degrees, 1,431 bachelor of science degrees, 31 bachelor of science in civil-engineering degrees, 27 bachelor of science in integrated-engineering degrees, ten bachelor of science in computer-engineering degrees, fourteen bachelor of science in electrical-engineering degrees, 30 bachelor of science in mechanical-engineering degrees, 30 bachelor of science in social-work degrees, and 29 associate of arts degrees.
More information about the Minnesota State Mankato spring 2021 commencement is available at https://mankato.mnsu.edu/mavgrad.
Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive university with 14,604 students, is part of the Minnesota State system, which includes 30 colleges and seven universities.
