VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) — It's a milestone made more memorable as we all work to overcome the pandemic: Valdosta State University graduates took the stage for in-person commencement ceremonies.
In all, VSU hosted four graduation ceremonies Monday. Nearly 1,000 students from fall, spring, and summer semesters took part in these ceremonies.
For the first time in history, VSU required tickets for students and parents to participate. The university said it also took additional steps to make sure it was a safe environment when it came to things like sanitizing and cleaning.
For spring graduate Dana Thompson, the steps were worth the opportunity to have an in-person ceremony.
"I feel like how VSU did it like they were pretty safe about everything," said Thompson. "Like how they had everybody leave in a manner, how they said they were sanitizing between each graduation, so I feel like everyone should be pretty safe, and everyone had to wear a mask the whole time."
Administrators expect to have seated roughly 3,500 graduates and guests throughout all four commencement ceremonies.
