Centenary University has announced the decision to move its 2020 Commencement Ceremony online due to ongoing restrictions on gatherings due to the coronavirus. The virtual event will be held this Saturday, May 9.

The theme of the commencement is Super Salutem Servetis, or Safety Before Tradition. Fred Mangione, senior vice president of sales and marketing, for the New York Jets and a 1994 graduate of the university, will deliver the keynote address.

The school wanted to ensure that commencement wasn’t postponed in spite of recent events and will hold the virtual ceremony on the original event date: “It’s very difficult to carry on as normal because these are not normal times,” said Bruce Murphy, Ph.D., Centenary University president. “At the same time, the Class of 2020 has worked extremely hard for their degrees and deserve to graduate on time.

When the quarantine is lifted, Murphy has pledged to host the Class of 2020 on campus to celebrate their new status as Centenary University alumni. In addition, members of the class have also been invited to participate in the 2021 commencement ceremony.

Twenty-one Students Recognized for Academic Achievement

This is not the first end-of-year event that took on virtual form. The university held a remote Honors Convocation on April 23.

Keeping with Centenary tradition, the annual event was held in the George H. Whitney Chapel, but was livestreamed this year due to the pandemic.

Among 21 honorees were five Warren County residents:

Hackettstown
Adrianna Alongi ’23, Outstanding Achievement in English—First/Second Year Award
Sara Schaarschmidt ’21, Social Media Marketing Innovator Award

Great Meadows
Kyle Hrebenak ’22, Outstanding Achievement in History—First/Second Year Award
Pier Semanchik ’21, Outstanding Achievement in Science—Second/Third Year Award

Phillipsburg
Anna Summitt ’22, Outstanding Achievement in Theatre Award