UNL grads cross the stage to receive diplomas, some for the first time (2024)

Like many members of the class of 2020, Austyn Stewart didn't get to experience the normal pomp and circ*mstance of a traditional high school graduation ceremony.

“We didn't have a ceremony,” he said. “They pretty much gave us our diplomas and we were done.”

Stewart said walking across the stage Saturday during the University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduation ceremony was a bittersweet moment, but he’s excited for his next chapter. He grew up in Lexington and plans to stay in Lincoln to teach at a local school.

Stewart's high school experience was similar to many other students who graduated just months after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States.

Many schools across the country canceled their graduation ceremonies in 2020, while others offered drive-thru, postponed or various other modified versions of graduations.

Schools that did celebrate the students’ achievements often asked for only immediate family members to attend.

That may be why Stewart and so many of his peers chose to attend their UNL graduation ceremony.

UNL officials said they expected 92% of the roughly 2,800 graduating seniors to attend Saturday's ceremony at Memorial Stadium, much higher than the normal range of 82-85% who usually show up.

Studentsclad in caps and gowns invited their entire families, who brought bouquets and balloons. They embraced without masks between them and crossed the three separate stages to be handed their degrees in front of their fellow students, friends and family.

UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett acknowledged the distinction.

“Congratulations are always in order each commencement day, but today is notable because of your exceptional determination to persevere through extraordinary obstacles,” Bennett said.

Before the baccalaureate degrees were handed out, Reserve Officers' Training Corps students repeated an oath and became members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Capt. Orlando Bowman did the ceremony. Five students joined the Air Force, 11 joined the Army, two joined the Navy and one joined the Marine Corps.

Matthan Sigowa grew up in Lincoln and said his high school graduation was a drive-thru ceremony. Saturday, he earned a degree in biological sciences with minors in biochemistry and psychology and wore a traditional Ghanaian pattern draped above his gown. Sigowa said he, among other Black students at UNL, received them at the African American Leadership Caucus Graduation.

While his high school graduation consisted of family and friends driving past him and his fellow graduates, he said Saturday felt genuine and real. For the first two years of his experience at UNL, Sigowa said there were very little social opportunities, in-person classes or clubs.

“I pretty much just came to campus for labs and that was it,” he said. “I felt like I didn't really get involved as much as I could have.”

Mallery Schultz said she felt the same way. With a lack of in-person opportunities her freshman year, Schultz said she missed out on many things other students were able to do.

Schultz received a degree in agricultural communications with a minor in agricultural leadership and will continue working in agriculture at Pillen Family Farms in her hometown of Columbus.

After her first year at college, Schultz said she continued to struggle to get involved. During her sophom*ore year, she rushed for sororities, but she said it was difficult for people to get to know each other through a screen.

Schultz’s high school graduation was postponed, but she said she’s thankful they were able to have a ceremony months later, even though they had to wear masks and be socially distant. Only her immediate family could attend, but on Saturday, many more members of her family were supporting her at Memorial Stadium.

At the end of the ceremony, fireworks lit up the morning sky and the graduating students moved their tassels from right to left before they threw their caps into the air.

“I just can't believe that I missed out on something like this in high school,” Schultz said.