Two big changes are coming to Commencement at Washington University in St. Louis. The annual universitywide ceremony is moving from Brookings Quadrangle to historic Francis Olympic Field. And, starting next year, Commencement will be followed by a celebration featuring lawn games, live entertainment and food from St. Louis eateries.
“Commencement at WashU will be bigger and better,” said Chancellor Andrew D. Martin. “We are excited to welcome our graduates and their family members and friends to Francis Field and hope that they will stay awhile after the ceremony to celebrate this momentous occasion.”
Francis Olympic Field successfully hosted 11 socially distanced Commencement ceremonies this May — eight for the Class of 2021 and three for the Class of 2020. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, said Gina Tramelli, executive director of special events in University Advancement. Guests appreciated the large LED screens that broadcast live footage of the student procession into the stadium, drone shots of the ceremony and closed captioning of speaker remarks. And graduates loved the post-ceremony celebration where they picnicked with grab-and-go meals from local caterers, posed at festive photo booths and strolled through campus one last time.
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