Students at the University of Mississippi's School of Law are walking across the stage to receive their diplomas. Seth Dickinson, president of the Student Bar Association, is speaking to his peers.
Dickinson says "No matter the price of what we have paid this past year especially, we bought in, and we bought in pretty dang well."
This is the University's first graduation ceremony since the coronavirus pandemic began last year. Charlotte Pegues, Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs, says graduates participating in outdoor ceremonies can also invite a limited number of guests.
"Students and families are very excited about having it in person. I anticipate a lot of participation, a lot of excitement," says Pegues. "Also, we were not able to have in-person commencement exercises last Spring, and we're inviting them back next weekend."
More than 2,000 graduates from the class of 2020 are registered to participate in commencement ceremonies, and similar events are being held at universities across the state.
Alisa Mosely, Senior Vice-President of Academic Affairs at Jackson State University, says returning to in-person graduation ceremonies is a needed departure from a year of online video conferences.
Mosely says "I think there is an energy of having people with you in the space, and being able to look at their expressions and really almost feel their sense of excitement."
According to the state college board, Mississippi's public universities will award more than 12 thousand degrees during spring commencement exercises.
