Carlson School Virtual Commencement Celebrates Class of 2021

In addition to offering in-person commencement ceremonies, the Carlson School provided a virtual commencement option for the Class of 2021, which launched May 24.

“I hope you will remember this period not as a time of disruption, but as a period where great accomplishments were achieved by working together, by putting we before I,” Zaheer told the graduates. “You fiercely advocated for your classmates who needed support; you advanced diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at the Carlson School and at the University more broadly; you achieved high marks in the classroom; and together, through all the experiential learning projects, you learned about new cultures and explored new places both in person and virtually. And you did all of this while still being students.”

Five virtual commencement ceremonies were created. Graduate and PhD students heard from Dean Zaheer, University of Minnesota President Joan T.A. Gabel, student speaker Yauheniya (Jane) Hochhalter, '21 MAcc, and leadership from their respective programs. Undergraduate students heard from Zaheer, Gabel, student speaker Jael Kerandi, '21 BSB, and program leaders, faculty, and staff.

This was the second year the Carlson School offered a virtual commencement for graduating students due to the COVID-19 pandemic.