USC Sumter Hosts Drive-Thru Graduation Celebration
Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at 5 pm
Sumter, SC (06/08/2020) — SUMTER, SC - The University of South Carolina Sumter like many other college campuses was forced to cancel their commencement ceremony this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, faculty and staff from the campus came up with an alternative to their traditional graduate send off. The campus will host a drive-thru celebration for graduates on Wednesday, June 10 at 5 pm.
"We were very disappointed we wouldn't be able to honor our graduates at commencement this year," said Dr. Michael Sonntag, USC Sumter Campus Dean. "One of our staff members, Lisa Rosdail, brought up the idea of a drive-thru to hand out awards and gifts for graduates in her Opportunity Scholars Program. We all agreed it was a fantastic idea, so we formed a committee and decided to include all of the USC Sumter graduates."
This form of gathering will allow the campus to adhere to strict social distancing policies, but also serve as a way to celebrate this year's 130 graduates. Students that are participating are asked to gather by 4:30 pm on the day of the event in the parking lot of the Nettles building on University Drive. Graduates are encouraged to wear their cap and gown if they have it and decorate their vehicles for the parade. The parade will drive North on University Drive, East on Theater Drive and then enter the campus' North parking lot. The parade will wind through the USC Sumter campus until they are greeted by Dr. Sonntag and other faculty and staff in front of the Williams-Brice-Edwards (WBE) Administration Building near the fountain.
Spectators are asked to socially distance and park in the East parking lot next to the WBE Administration Building. The campus encourages spectators to decorate their cars and bring signs and noise makers to cheer on these very special graduates.
For more details and updates about the drive-thru graduation celebration, visit the event page on the USC Sumter Facebook page at facebook.com/UniversityofSouthCarolinaSumter. For further questions, please contact Alethia Hummel at 803-938-3728 or alethiah@mailbox.sc.edu.
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