{"id":132817,"date":"2020-12-21T16:17:45","date_gmt":"2020-12-22T02:17:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=132817"},"modified":"2020-12-22T18:52:30","modified_gmt":"2020-12-23T04:52:30","slug":"fall-2020-uh-commencement-ceremonies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2020\/12\/21\/fall-2020-uh-commencement-ceremonies\/","title":{"rendered":"Virtual celebrations, drive-through recognize fall 2020 grads"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 2<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><figure id=\"attachment_132974\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-132974\" style=\"width: 676px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/uh-hilo-fall-2020-commencement.jpg\" alt=\"chancellor handing graduate a diploma in a car\" width=\"676\" height=\"381\" class=\"size-full wp-image-132974\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/uh-hilo-fall-2020-commencement.jpg 676w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/uh-hilo-fall-2020-commencement-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/uh-hilo-fall-2020-commencement-130x73.jpg 130w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 676px) 100vw, 676px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-132974\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><abbr>UH<\/abbr> Hilo drive-through commencement (Photo credit: Kirsten Aoyagi)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Although fall 2020 at the University of <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>&#8211;West <span aria-label=\"Oahu,\">O&#699;ahu,<\/span> <abbr title=\"University of Hawaii\">UH<\/abbr> Hilo and <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M&#257;noa looked a little different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the campuses found ways to celebrate students\u2019 achievements with commencement.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2020\/12\/22\/fall-2020-commencement-photos\/\">Photos: Congratulations fall 2020 <abbr>UH<\/abbr> grads!<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><abbr>UH<\/abbr> West <span aria-label=\"Oahu\">O&#699;ahu<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The pre-recorded virtual ceremony on December 12, featured remarks by Chancellor <strong>Maenette K.P. Ah Nee-Benham<\/strong>, <abbr>UH<\/abbr> President <strong>David Lassner<\/strong>, Faculty Senate Chair <strong>Edward Keaunui<\/strong>, <strong>Jenna Marie Marcos<\/strong>, president of the Associated Students of <abbr>UH<\/abbr> West <span aria-label=\"Oahu,\">O&#699;ahu,<\/span> and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs <strong>Jeffrey Moniz<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Each of us has been affected by 2020 in different ways. Despite that, all of us have survived what this year has brought upon us and accomplished little and big milestones in our lives,&rdquo; said Marcos. &ldquo;Let this be a reminder that even at times where it seems like we are in a dark tunnel with no end in sight, that positivity and our resilience can power through to keep us going and reach the end.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Congratulations to our graduates,&rdquo; said Benham. &ldquo;It is time for you to sail forward.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"responsive-video-wrap-post\"><figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe  id=\"_ytid_30369\"  width=\"620\" height=\"349\"  data-origwidth=\"620\" data-origheight=\"349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VtkZ9F5-s8A?enablejsapi=1&origin=https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu&rel=0&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&disablekb=0&\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  no-lazyload\" title=\"UHWO 2020 Virtual Commencement Ceremony\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n<p>For more go to <a href=\"https:\/\/westoahu.hawaii.edu\/kaloinews\/?p=14009\"><em>Ka Puna O <span aria-label=\"Kaloi\">Kalo&#699;i<\/span><\/em><\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/westoahu.hawaii.edu\/commencement\/\">commencement website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><abbr>UH<\/abbr> Hilo<\/h2>\n<p><abbr>UH<\/abbr> Hilo held its fall 2020 commencement on December 19 with a drive-through and virtual event. The online celebration included a k&#299;hei tying ceremony followed by a pre-recorded video of the <abbr>UH<\/abbr> Hilo leadership team along with name cards featuring pictures and messages from graduates. Each graduate has a &ldquo;clickable&rdquo; student page that displays their degree and certificate types, along with their uploaded pictures and messages.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This year\u2019s graduates have pursued their learning through lava, hurricane and pandemic,&rdquo; said Chancellor <strong>Bonnie D. Irwin<\/strong>. &ldquo;I am impressed with their resilience and grateful for the dedication of the faculty and staff who have helped them in this journey. The future of our island and our state is in good hands with these remarkable graduates.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"responsive-video-wrap-post\"><figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe  id=\"_ytid_76105\"  width=\"620\" height=\"349\"  data-origwidth=\"620\" data-origheight=\"349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VE1lNHmexl4?enablejsapi=1&origin=https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu&rel=0&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&disablekb=0&\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  no-lazyload\" title=\"Fall 2020 Virtual Commencement Celebration\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n<p>For more go to <a href=\"https:\/\/hilo.hawaii.edu\/chancellor\/stories\/2020\/12\/19\/2020-fall-commencement\/\"><em><abbr>UH<\/abbr> Hilo Stories<\/em><\/a> or the <a href=\"https:\/\/westoahu.hawaii.edu\/commencement\/\">commencement website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/h2>\n<p><abbr>UH<\/abbr> M&#257;noa celebrated virtually on December 19 with mahalo messages from graduates and pre-recorded speeches by PBS <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> <abbr title=\"chief executive officer\">CEO<\/abbr> and President Leslie Wilcox and student speaker public health <abbr title=\"doctor of philosophy\">PhD<\/abbr> candidate Amalie <span aria-label=\"Alohilani\">&#699;Alohilani<\/span> Monlux.<\/p>\n<p>Wilcox told the graduates, &ldquo;When I was 18, I lost my future.&rdquo; She outlined her climb to help her family through troubled times to become one of the state\u2019s most respected journalists and leaders. &ldquo;Believe me, I\u2019m not arguing that hardship is a prize, and I\u2019m not minimizing the enormity of what you face today,&rdquo; Wilcox said. &ldquo;I\u2019m saying that all is not lost. That your life can become better with or because of adversity\u2026Your generation is capable of creating many new constructs for a better future. Don\u2019t be afraid of the complexities. Take your shot!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Student speaker Monlux said, &ldquo;Here is what I would like you to take away from my speech: It may have been a long journey, it may have been a difficult journey, it may have felt never ending, but you got here. We made it!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Related <em><abbr>UH<\/abbr> News<\/em> story: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2020\/12\/14\/manoa-grad-speaker-amaile-monlux\/\">Â鶹´«Ã½M\u0101noa commencement speaker\u2019s steep, slow climb to a PhD<\/a>, December 14, 2020<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Leslie Wilcox<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsive-video-wrap-post\"><figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe  id=\"_ytid_73005\"  width=\"620\" height=\"349\"  data-origwidth=\"620\" data-origheight=\"349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2B3NmJePUps?enablejsapi=1&origin=https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu&rel=0&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&disablekb=0&\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  no-lazyload\" title=\"Â鶹´«Ã½M\u0101noa Fall 2020 Commencement Address from PBS Hawai\u2018i CEO and President Leslie Wilcox\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n<p><strong>Amalie <span aria-label=\"Alohilani\">&#699;Alohilani<\/span> Monlux<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsive-video-wrap-post\"><figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe  id=\"_ytid_31725\"  width=\"620\" height=\"349\"  data-origwidth=\"620\" data-origheight=\"349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bwiJLr-2a24?enablejsapi=1&origin=https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu&rel=0&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&disablekb=0&\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  no-lazyload\" title=\"Â鶹´«Ã½M\u0101noa Fall 2020 Commencement Student Speaker\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n<p>For more go to the <a href=\"https:\/\/manoa.hawaii.edu\/commencement\/\"><abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa commencement website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Although fall 2020 at the <abbr>UH<\/abbr> West <span aria-label=\"Oahu,\">O&#699;ahu,<\/span> <abbr>UH<\/abbr> Hilo and <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M&#257;noa looked a little different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the campuses found ways to celebrate commencement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[234,14,9,59,56],"class_list":["post-132817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-commencement","tag-uh-hilo","tag-uh-manoa","tag-uh-west-oahu","tag-video-2","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132817","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=132817"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132817\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":133148,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132817\/revisions\/133148"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=132817"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=132817"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=132817"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}