In what just might be one of their most unusual experiences at Felician University, 513 graduating seniors became part of the University’s 56^th graduating class – the first class to mark the time honored tradition of commencement online instead of on campus.

Due to social distancing restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 Pandemic, the online ceremony was held Saturday, May 16 following a request from graduating seniors for some kind of recognition ceremony on the actual day the commencement had been planned in May.

No caps were thrown high in the air at the conclusion of the virtual event, and the rest of the Pomp and Circumstance associated with a traditional commencement will have to wait until September 12 when an actual ceremony will be held on the Lodi Campus.

Several University officials dressed in full academic regalia as they addressed students virtually to acknowledge their accomplishments and achievements. Speaking from her living room instead of from the Dais at Breslin Auditorium, Felician President Dr. Anne Prisco acknowledged that, “the graduating class of 2020 has demonstrated through a year of turmoil and transition that they are smart, talented, and, “prepared to shape the future.”

The Felician class of 2020 will undoubtedly never forget the year they graduated during a global health pandemic, and Dr. Prisco assured them Felician, “will always be your home.” She urged them to commit to changing the world one graduate at a time by committing to keep, learning, listening, embracing new ideas, and being conscious of the needs of those less fortunate.”

Dr. Sylvia McGeary, V.P. of Academic Affairs and Mission Integration at Felician, reminded the graduates, “I’d like you to remember that a Felician graduate is a graduate who possesses competence, character and compassion and the ability to be a leader in the 21st century.”

The virtual ceremony ended with Felician’s Director of Campus Ministry Andy Fellows reciting the Prayer for Peace and Justice which concludes with a powerful message, “For it is in healing that we are healed. It is in reconciling that we are reconciled. It is in our common bond that we become whole.”

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About Felician University 

Felician University engages over 2,300 undergraduate, graduate, and adult students through programs in Arts & Sciences, Business, Nursing, and Education. Universal Franciscan values of social justice, compassion, and respect for human dignity serve as an inclusive foundation for transforming the lives of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University’s education is ranked 3rd best return on investment for private colleges in New Jersey 2018 by the PayScale.com College ROI Report and is ranked #1 safest college campus in the state by niche.com.