Veronica Yeoman celebrates Friday as she drives by a number of Medicine Hat College faculty outside the school. Students were able to take part in a drive-thru-style graduation event.--NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@mocranker
When people hear the words ‘drive-thru’ they’re probably going to think about food.
The words had a whole different meaning Friday to this year’s Medicine Hat College graduates.
Students lined up throughout the day in their vehicles outside of the front of the college building. One by one, they drove by college faculty to get their parchment, cap and tassel. A couple dozen faculty members were set up with signs on both sides of the road, and the group cheered and clapped for each student as they drove off campus.
“When COVID came around we knew that we couldn’t hold convocation this year, but we really believe it is a defining moment for students,” said college president Kevin Shufflebotham. “We knew we wanted a way to recognize our graduates this year and we knew there had to be a way to honour these students.
“The convocation committee put their heads together and came up with this drive-thru idea – we think it’s a good way to do this under the circumstances.”
The 2020 graduating class includes 545 students from certificate, diploma and degree students. It also includes an additional 106 trade students.
Veronica Yeoman served as president for the Medicine Hat Students’ Association president this year and she was one of the first students to drive by the college to celebration graduating Friday. She says the celebration was a good way to make the best of an unfortunate situation.
“Everything is different this year and we’ve had to work with it,” she said. “Our classes went online earlier this year and that was actually pretty smooth for me. The instructors did a great job – they were so forgiving and willing to help.
“Our teachers went the extra mile to help us succeed.”
She says she was happy that students had the option to celebrate graduation in a drive-thru style.
“It’s a really tough situation,” she said. “It’s obviously upsetting because we were all looking forward to a big celebration as friends. Under the circumstances, I think this is a really good way to make light of the situation.
“I know a lot of my friends will be working toward their degree, and I’m hoping we’ll all be able to celebrate in a couple years when we’re done that.”
Joshua Hirsch is graduating from the business administration program with a finance major. He says graduates have a lot to be proud of.
“We had to change up how we studied and how we did finals, but we did it,” he said. “We worked hard to graduate and I’m thankful that the college has made this an option for us.”
He says he was happy to be taking part in the drive-by graduation.
“If you would have asked me a year ago, I never would have guessed it would look like this,” Hirsch said. “The college is doing the best with what they have and I think this is a good way to give students a moment they can remember.”
Shufflebotham says this is a strong graduating class.
“They are so committed to their education and their future,” he said. “We are so proud of this group.”
The 2020 graduating class will have a convocation ceremony held on June 11 next year.
