Picture this: You’re a senior at Asbury. You’ve got your group of friends, and you’re ready to graduate and move on to the next big thing in your life. All of a sudden, COVID-19 hits and the rest of your final semester is canceled. Shortly after, commencement is canceled. It’s rescheduled to October, only to be canceled yet again.
This is the plight of the Visionary Class of 2020. However, on Oct. 17, students, faculty, families and graduates gathered together on Zoom for a virtual commencement ceremony to celebrate the Visionary Class and the work they accomplished during their time at Asbury.
How do the Visionaries feel about this unusual commencement ceremony? We talked to two Visionary class members, Maggie Richwine ’20 Campbell and Taryne Wenger ’20 Stenger.
“Listen, I am Asbury’s #1 fan, so I am totally on board with virtual commencement,” said Campbell. “I know Asbury’s heart and have witnessed administration, faculty, and staff go out of their way to show the Visionary class that they are not forgotten. Do I grieve that I will not be able to walk around Asbury again, hang out with Tori McKinley and Hannah Furman, formally walk across the stage, and bother all the staff in Student Development again for one more weekend? Oh absolutely, but am I still hyped that I get to watch Commencement on my couch surrounded by my family? Yes! That sounds good to me too! I’m happy because I know Asbury is trying so hard to make up for everything the Visionary class has lost.”
Despite the difficult circumstances that surround the Visionary Class’ commencement celebrations, both Campbell and Stenger are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate, whatever that looks like.
“To me, a virtual commencement does not come close to the same experience or celebration as what traditional commencement would have been,” said Stenger. “However, I do appreciate all the effort that is going into making this coming Saturday possible. I am sad that I won’t be able to see professors and fellow classmates. Though I am looking forward to the virtual celebration this Saturday, celebrating together, in person, is something that cannot be replaced.”
Campbell, who has worked closely with the Walsh family, Visionary class president Colin Toth, the Registrar’s Office, Dr. Tim Campbell and StratComm to make this event possible, shares in the disappointment of not having an in-person event.
“I think like most of the Visionary class, I was devastated when commencement was canceled in May,” said Campbell. “Everything was so raw, and graduation was a huge moment that was going to be missed. Fast forward to September, and while Asbury is handling COVID like champs, our nation is still fragile. Bringing back the Visionary class for commencement would put current students, faculty, and staff at Asbury at risk. That seems selfish to me. So while canceling a second time was sad, I knew it was the best thing to do.”
Stenger articulated that canceling graduation not once, but twice, was difficult to come to terms with.
“When things were canceled in March it was hard knowing that all the plans that we had for the next month and a half, all the things that we were looking forward to as seniors, were completely gone,” said Stenger. “I felt a little bit like us graduates were thrown to the wolves. We didn’t get the closure that we all were wanting, and honestly, needing. When commencement was canceled for the second time, it was less of a shock; and honestly, I think I was more angry and frustrated than I was sad. I understand the circumstances we are in, but it felt a little unfair to the seniors of 2020.”
Regardless, both Campbell and Stenger are grateful that the Visionary Class got to be celebrated.
