Lights, camera, broadcast!
Niagara College faculty and staff are setting the stage for another series of interactive, high-energy virtual Spring Convocation Ceremonies from June 21 to 25. The live streamed ceremonies can be viewed at niagaracollege.ca/virtualconvocation.
The interactive virtual ceremonies are being held as the College continues to comply with ongoing gathering restrictions and safety measures during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Following the success of their debut in June 2020, the 10 virtual ceremonies this spring contain many treasured elements of NC’s traditional in-person convocation events – including inspiring speeches and the call-outs of each graduate’s name – while leveraging the use of technology and the College’s broadcasting expertise to connect graduates remotely.
A total of 3,872 graduating students will celebrate the culmination of their studies on a high note – with help from Canadian singer/songwriter/musician Sarah Blackwood. Blackwood, leading member of Juno-award-winning band Walk Off the Earth, will be the special guest speaker and an honorary diploma recipient during the ceremonies.
NC has another special reason to celebrate this year: its 100,000th graduate. The identity of the 100,000th unique graduate – those with multiple NC credentials have only been counted once – will be revealed at the moment the College hits the mark during one of 10 ceremonies, when the graduate’s name is about to be read aloud.
President Kennedy and vice president, Academic, Fiona Allan will preside over each ceremony from the Welland Campus, as a team of students from the Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film program work behind the scenes, alongside staff and faculty, to bring the ceremony broadcast into the homes of viewers around the world.
As they watch the ceremony in real time, graduates are also invited to connect with their classmates through pre-organized Zoom program parties and make a virtual appearance during the ceremony broadcast.
Convocation will incorporate video well-wishes from faculty, staff, alumni and more. The College has also created a custom social media experience for graduates and guests to post and view live reactions, photos, and messages shared with the hashtag #NCGrad2021 during the ceremonies.
Visit the College’s Spring Virtual Convocation site to view the ceremony schedule or to access the livestream at niagaracollege.ca/virtualconvocation.
