PEORIA, Ill. — 2020 graduates of Bradley University were finally able to have their moment Friday evening at Shea Stadium.
After graduating a year earlier, many students may have wondered if they would ever have the chance to walk across the stage.
Caitlyn DePriest, one of the graduating students, was glad to finally have the opportunity to do it in person.
“It’s not quite the same when you’re sitting in your living room watching a photo of yourself fly by on the TV,” she said. “Getting to actually walk across that stage is that sense of closure we’re all needing.”
Multiple students mentioned there being a reunion feel to the graduation.
“A lot of people had to travel, so there’s a lot of people we got to meet up with,” said DePriest. “It’s really fun to see where they’re at in their life now.”
Kia Woods-Wall, another student, said her friends were all excited to see each other. Woods-Wall said they weren’t able to see each other at all during the last year due to the pandemic.
She also said her family was glad to finally have the moment.
“My family is really happy they get to see me walk across the stage,” said Woods-Wall. “I know a lot of people were disappointed when I didn’t get to last year.”
Jake Winkle agreed, saying his family was waiting for the moment as well.
“The graduation ceremony for the most part — it’s great,” said Winkle.
The graduation, according to Julianne Stanger, allowed students to have some closure from college.
“It really just feels like the book of our Bradley experience is closing and being put on the shelf,” said Stanger. “I feel like this is the third time closing the book, but I feel like this will be the final one.”
Although they were able to walk across the stage, DePriest said surrounding circumstances made it feel different.
“We get to be here, but still the masks and social distancing,” said DePriest. “We’ll still look back on this and remember what it was like and what the time was at the moment.
“I feel blessed that we get to do this, for sure.”
Various graduation ceremonies will be held throughout the weekend at Shea Stadium. Bradley University estimated 180-200 students from the 2020 class returned Friday to walk across the stage.
