To cross the stage

Spring Commencement 2021

Brigitte Ortiz | THE RIDER

UTRGV will host in-person commencement ceremonies for graduates starting May 8. More than 3,400 students graduating in the spring or summer will participate in the commencement ceremonies. 

University Registrar Sofia Almeda said it is exciting for the university to be planning the ceremony after not having held a ceremony for more than a year and a half. 

 “We’re glad we’re able to hold the ceremony for them,” Almeda said. “And in order to make it a really successful event, we really urge them to read their emails carefully and plan ahead and make sure they’re prepared for the actual day.” 

She said it can be grueling to get so much communication, but the university wants the ceremony to go as smoothly as possible for students and guests. 

“For example, the areas that guests will need to head to is different from the area that graduates will go to,” Almeda said. “And even though it’s outdoors and many students are familiar with their campuses, things will look different on commencement day because there will be streets that are closed and there will be parking lots that are off limit due to the layout of the ceremony.

“So, paying attention to emails and the resources that we’ll be posting online for the layout of the ceremony is going to be real important so that when students start heading to campus, they know exactly where they’re going to park at ahead of time and graduates and their guests know exactly what area to walk towards once they arrive.”

She said the day of the ceremony, check-in time will begin an hour before the ceremony and end 15 minutes before it starts. 

“So all students need to be checked in and seated in their seats before we begin the actual ceremony,” Almeda said. “Due to the pandemic, we won’t have a traditional procession into the seating area, but graduates will be escorted to their seats by university staff.”

She said if students are late, depending on where they are in the ceremony, they may or may not be able to accommodate them. 

“It just really depends on logistics and it is possible, too, that they would have to be the last to graduate,” Almeda said. 

She said the deadline for claiming a guest ticket to the ceremony is up until the ceremony starts. Tickets are sent to graduates’ emails.

“The tickets can be presented either on their phone or on paper,” Almeda said. “It’s basically whatever works for them, but we really, really want to emphasize to students that duplication of any barcode, or QR code rather, could impact their guests’ ability to attend. Again, every student is allotted only four guests and so, if somebody is trying to get in with a QR code that has already been scanned, that person will not be able to get into the ceremony. So, we really don’t want to see that happen and to see any guest be turned away, but we really do have to adhere to that four-ticket limit.”

For dates and times of the 2021 commencement ceremonies, click here. 

Exercise science senior Linda Canales will attend the commencement ceremony on the Brownsville campus May 8. 

Asked about graduating during a pandemic, Canales replied, “I feel really proud of myself that I got through these last three semesters having to be online, and I’m just ready to graduate.” 

She said UTRGV made the process to apply for graduation easy. 

“I actually think they did a very great job. …  Everything was done really efficiently and in a great way, actually,” Canales said. 

She said she wished the ceremonies would be inside as they were in the past. 

“And the times, a little better,” Canales said. “You know how, now, they’re kind of, like, really early on the Saturday but other than that, I’m just really grateful that we are actually being able to actually walk and graduate. You know, because it’s like a big accomplishment, and that’s something I’ve been looking forward to for the longest time, so I’m really thankful that we’re going to have the opportunity to do so.” 

Andrea Godoy, a business administration and accounting senior, will attend the Edinburg commencement ceremony May 7.

She said graduating amid a pandemic has been something unexpected. 

 “But, I mean, it’s been a very different past couple of years counting the one, when the pandemic started last year,” Godoy said. “For me, personally, my faith in God is what gets me through everything, so trusting him that he’s allowing, so far, for us to do it in person this time. … It’s different but still exciting and [I’m] thankful that we get the opportunity to go back in person because I think it makes it extra special.” 

Asked about her experience leading up to graduation, she replied that it was a little difficult for her since she switched her major. 

“I ended up having to take a little bit tougher classes towards the end, which I wasn’t quite expecting,” Godoy said. “So, it makes it, like, more things to do and the uncertainty of, well, I am planning to graduate but, I mean, if I’m not able to pass a class … then I need to think about taking it in the summer and things like that. But it’s still special because I know, Lord willing, I’ll be able to graduate and take that next step.”