Above / North Central College has announced plans to celebrate Classes of 2020 and 2021 with in-person commencement ceremonies. (PN File Photo)
After hosting a virtual graduation last fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic, North Central College will provide graduates from the classes of 2020 and 2021 with the opportunity to walk across the stage in front of their family and friends this spring.
North Central College is one of a handful of institutions that will celebrate its graduates during in-person ceremonies. Classes of 2020 and 2021 will gather for four separate outdoor commencement ceremonies over the course of two days, May 8 and May 9, 2021. The ceremonies will be modified from the College’s traditional commencement events to comply with current COVID-19 safety protocols, including event capacity limits, physical distancing, and required face coverings.

The events will take place in the College’s outdoor Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, where graduates will be physically distanced in on-field seating with ticketed guests seated in the stands in physically distanced family pods of no more than four individuals.
All four ceremonies will also be livestreamed for online viewing.
North Central College Commencement Schedule
North Central College welcomes 270 members of the Class of 2020 and 614 graduate and undergraduate students representing the Class of 2021.
WHERE: Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, 450 S. Brainard St.
WHEN: 10AM Sat., May 8: School of Business and Entrepreneurship
3PM Sat., May 8: School of Education and Health Sciences
10AM Sun., May 9: Colleges of Arts and Sciences—arts, humanities, and social sciences majors, and Shimer Great Books and interdisciplinary programs
3PM Sun., May 9: College of Arts and Sciences—science majors
The ceremonies will comply with all current COVID-19 safety protocols.
Story submitted by Kelly Murphy, Assistant Director of Communications & PR, North Central College.