Class of 2020 celebration echoes across the country and around the world

Cheers, congratulations and the ceremonial ringing of bells poured in from two dozen states and eight countries in virtual celebration of the accomplishments and bright futures of the McDaniel College Class of 2020. Families and friends of the 555 graduates joined in the day-long festivities that included virtual awards ceremonies, a slide show featuring every graduate and departmental receptions — all culminating in the traditional bell ringing and welcome as the newest alumni.

McDaniel graduates received their celebration in a box – their own commemorative bell to ring during the Zoom bell-ringing and a McDaniel baseball cap welcoming them to the Alumni Association. — McDaniel graduates were mailed their celebration in a box – their own commemorative bell to ring during the Zoom bell-ringing and a McDaniel baseball cap welcoming them to the Alumni Association.

Bells rang out literally from Washington to Florida, California to New York and as far away as Australia as the McDaniel College Class of 2020 gathered virtually May 23 to celebrate their accomplishments and, each with their own bell, join in the ceremonial bell ringing that symbolizes the steps they are taking off the Hill and into their futures.

Family and friends cheered the graduates – 325 bachelor’s degree candidates and 230 master’s candidates – and saluted their many achievements via multiple online channels and social media. Earlier in the week, the graduates were mailed their celebration in a box – their own commemorative bell to ring during the Zoom bell-ringing and a McDaniel baseball cap welcoming them to the Alumni Association.

Throughout the week leading up to Saturday’s 2020 Celebration, seniors shared a virtual Senior Week loaded with McDaniel memories, spirit, trivia and shout outs to their classmates and favorite professors. Nine ROTC cadets, including eight seniors and a graduate student, were commissioned on May 22.

View the virtual ceremonies

Academic Awards Activity and Leadership Awards Bell Ringing ROTC Commissioning

McDaniel graduates were mailed their celebration in a box.

The May 23 all-virtual festivities featured a video slideshow highlighting a slide for each graduate and award ceremonies for academics, activities and leadership. Many departments held receptions throughout the afternoon to give the graduates the opportunity to say good-bye to classmates and professors alike.

During the day’s award ceremonies, top undergraduate awards were announced. Nicolette Brookman, an English major with a Secondary Education minor from Sykesville, Md., received both top academic awards – The Argonaut Award for highest GPA of 4.0 in her entire completed course of study and The Edith Farr Ridington Writing Award for the best paper among those submitted by the various departments.

Veronica Johns of Baltimore, who earned a bachelor’s in Spanish and master’s in Teaching, was honored with The Mary Ward Lewis Prize, awarded to the woman of the graduating class who has made the best record during her undergraduate course. Ravi Patel, a Political Science and Spanish major from San Diego, Reno and Mexico City, was awarded The Bates Prize for the most outstanding male graduating senior.

“You are the people who will lead our future. I am tremendously proud that You Are McDaniel," President Roger Casey said.

Prior to the bell-ringing, President Roger Casey told the graduates they deserve to mark a milestone on the day that would have been their Commencement, noting that the college is committed to celebrating their achievement during an in-person Class of 2020 Commencement next spring.

“I am amazed by your determination and resilience,” Casey said. “You are the people who will lead our future. I am tremendously proud that You Are McDaniel.”

The graduates were welcomed as McDaniel’s newest alumni by Alumni Association president Chuck Sullivan ’72, who asked them to reach into their celebration boxes, take out their alumni hat and place proudly on their heads. At the close of the college’s traditional Commencement ceremonies, the new graduates find the same hat under their seats.

“You’ve acquired strength and knowledge, learned flexibility and resilience and formed relationships that will endure,” Sullivan said via Facebook. “You’ll be better for it all and we are honored to call you alumni.”

The Class of 2020 will next gather in the spring of 2021 for an in-person Commencement ceremony.

McDaniel graduates were able to ring-out the day with a virtual bell ringing.