As a result of the still-evolving COVID-19 pandemic, Moraine Park Technical College has decided to cancel its 2020 commencement ceremony. 

In early April, following the initial Safer at Home order, the College announced an alternative date for this year’s ceremony with a disclaimer that if social distancing requirements were still in effect, the event would be canceled. Today, the COVID-19 situation remains very fluid, with many unknowns around the reopening of the state, and with the announcement of Gov. Tony Evers extension of the Safer at Home order and his Badger Bounce Back requirements for reopening the state, the College will be unable to hold a large celebration on June 27.

“Moraine Park had the highest hopes to hold a ceremony this year,” Bonnie Baerwald, Moraine Park president, said. “However, the safety of our students, employees, and communities is of the utmost importance to us. With so many unknowns and safety at the forefront, this is just the right thing to do.” 

Baerwald shared a personal announcement with graduates on Wednesday morning that acknowledged their accomplishments, congratulated them on their graduation and detailed how the College plans to help them celebrate from a distance.  

“It is no secret that this historic time has resulted in the loss of many things for many people, but our student’s newly gained college degree is not one of those things,” Baerwald said. “They have worked countless hours and devoted years of their lives to better themselves, and we will still celebrate them.”  

Additionally, Baerwald extended a personal invitation to the graduates to participate in next year’s ceremony, scheduled for May 2021. 

 For Moraine Park’s COVID-19 updates, visit morainepark.edu/coronavirus.