April 29, 2020 | College Communications

Dear Campus Community,

We’re just a few short days away from our first-ever Commencement Webcast which will take place this Sunday, May 3, at 2 p.m. Central Time. I hope you will join us in celebrating the Class of 2020 by streaming the video live on your computer, tablet or phone at northcentralcollege.edu/commencement, or by tuning in locally to NCTV Channel 17 in Naperville. The full webcast will also be saved and embedded on the Commencement webpage and on the College’s YouTube channel to view at your convenience.

We have created a digital version of the 2020 Commencement Program, which is now available to view at northcentralcollege.edu/commencement/program.

Commencement is a special milestone for our graduates and the capstone to our academic year. While a webcast is not how we had envisioned celebrating the Class of 2020 just a few short months ago, I am extremely proud of the way the North Central College community has responded to these unprecedented circumstances—with a spirit of flexibility, strength and fortitude. And that also goes for the planning and organization of the Commencement Webcast.

While we still plan to recognize the Class of 2020 with an in-person ceremony when circumstances allow, we felt it extremely important to recognize our graduates on the day and time that had been originally scheduled. This Sunday marks the completion of an educational journey for 763 students who are candidates for bachelor’s degrees and 126 students who are candidates for advanced degrees. These recognitions are even more profound and hard-earned given the current circumstances and all the other traditions and experiences these students have had to sacrifice in order to help keep themselves, their families and their communities safe. Our graduates deserve this moment and we’re proud to be able to deliver it to them with Sunday’s Webcast.

The Webcast will feature remarks from Board of Trustees Chair Jim McDermet M’92, Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico, and student speaker Cem Addemir ’20, and the names of more than 600 graduates will be read by more than 200 faculty and staff members. This unique touch speaks to what makes the North Central experience so special—the bonds that are forged between our students and their mentors throughout their time on campus. We will also recognize recipients of the College’s Outstanding Senior Award and the Mark A. Reid Leadership Award.

Thank you to all those who have done so much in such a short amount of time to make the Commencement Webcast possible so the North Central College community can unite in celebrating the Class of 2020. Be sure to engage with the College’s social media channels by tagging and sharing your Commencement photos and videos and by using the hashtag #NCGrad2020. I look forward to celebrating with you on Sunday!

Best Regards,

Troy D. Hammond
President
Professor of Physics
North Central College