St. John Fisher University in Rochester, N.Y., recently celebrated its seventieth commencement ceremonies, honoring nearly 1,000 graduates. This year’s ceremonies were particularly special as they marked the first graduates of the university’s online pathway program, allowing students to graduate together despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the ceremonies, Dean Christine Birnie of the Wegmans School of Pharmacy commended the Class of 2024 for their resilience and growth over the past four years. She praised the graduates for their development into professional, empathetic clinicians ready to serve their communities.
The Online Pathways Program provided students with a virtual way to learn the on-campus curriculum, offering an unexpected but successful route for furthering their education during the pandemic. Graduates expressed their pride in reaching this milestone, with Vincent Salerno reflecting on the challenges of the past year and Kristina Alkhasyan crediting the pandemic for inspiring her to pursue a career in healthcare.
Alicia Zimmer, another graduate, received three awards at the commencement and is set to begin a year one residency at Highland Hospital. She shared her satisfaction in seeing her hard work recognized and expressed relief at closing this chapter of her academic journey.
As college graduations continue throughout the month of May, St. John Fisher University’s ceremonies serve as a testament to the perseverance and achievements of students in the face of unprecedented challenges.