A Virtual Celebration

There may not be a stage to cross or cheering throngs of well-wishers, but UC Santa Barbara’s newest graduates will be feted all the same.

 A combined 6,793 students, both undergraduate and graduate, are set to earn degrees for the 2019-2020 academic year. In order to celebrate their accomplishments safely until an in-person redo is possible, the university has planned a special digital event. An in-person ceremony will take place in the future when students and their families and friends can be welcomed back to campus.

The Class of 2020 Virtual Celebration will officially launch online at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 13, during what would have been the campus’s annual commencement weekend.

Remarks from Chancellor Henry T. Yang, as well as from the deans of the College of Creative Studies, the College of Engineering, and the College of Letters and Science are among the highlights, along with student speaker Courtney Chan, who has earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

The celebration also will feature a song for graduating students from award-winning musician, filmmaker, environmental and sustainability champion, humanitarian and UC Santa Barbara distinguished alumnus Jack Johnson.

Personalized graduate slides will be available for viewing.

To build excitement for the celebration and to mark the occasion in other fun, but safe ways, the university has created a few other digital activities for its latest soon-to-be alumni, including a virtual Henley Gate photo booth, a crowdsourced #UCSB2020 playlist and a compendium of congrats from other Gaucho alumni.