The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will hold a special in-person recognition ceremony at noon on April 10 for students who graduated during the height of the pandemic and therefore had a virtual commencement ceremony.

UWM students who graduated in May 2020, December 2020 or May 2021 are invited to the ceremony at the UWM Panther Arena, which will have the commencement pomp and circumstance they may have missed.

Graduates should RSVP soon. Graduates who RSVP by March 20 at uwm.edu/graduation will receive a link to download four guest tickets. Any guest tickets that aren’t downloaded by April 5 will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Kelly Haag, UWM’s vice chancellor for Student Affairs, said the university is delighted to offer this chance to honor graduates.

“We know many students missed the traditional in-person commencement,” Haag said. “It’s a chance to celebrate their achievement with family and friends and mark the passage into a new stage in life. The pandemic has been so hard on so many people, and missing in-person commencement was one more disruption to our cherished traditions. We invite our 2020 and 2021 graduates to come back and celebrate.”

At the ceremony, students’ names will be read as they cross the stage. Graduation regalia is optional; some students might wear full regalia, others might wear all black or UWM gold and black. Students have already received their diplomas – they’re invited to bring them along for photo ops.

Chia Vang, UWM vice chancellor of diversity, equity and inclusion, will be the featured speaker.

More information is available on the UWM graduation webpage.