Sponsored Institutions - Stories

By Meredith Amor
Communications Director, Barry University

May 26, 2020, Miami, Florida — More than 10,000 viewers tuned in live to support and celebrate Barry University’s 2020 graduates during a virtual degree conferral that streamed on Facebook, with thousands more watching after the event wrapped up. Messages of encouragement for the graduates poured in from across the country and around the world. 

“This is an occasion that’s incredibly exciting for our students and their families, and we are so pleased to be celebrating and honoring the work of our graduates,” said Dr. Scott Smith, Barry’s Vice President for Mission and Student Engagement, ahead of the event.

The ceremony, during which degrees were conferred upon more than 1,000 graduates, included a welcome from Barry University President Dr. Mike Allen; a prayer from University Chaplain Father Cristobal Torres, OP; messages from each of the College and School Deans; and celebratory toasts from Board of Trustees Chair John Bussel, Alumni Board of Directors President Jaime Lizotte, and other special guests. 

Barry University also hosted a party on Instagram Live to celebrate with the graduates.

This was the third virtual degree conferral the university hosted, after expediting graduation for two College of Nursing and Health Sciences Programs in order to speed the transition of qualified, well-educated health care professionals into the fight against COVID-19.

Barry’s 45 graduating podiatric medical students also participated in a virtual Hippocratic Oath ceremony on May 1. Those students officially became doctors upon degree conferral.

Barry University’s final Spring 2020 virtual degree conferral took place on May 15, 2020, for graduates of Barry’s Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law.

“The feedback from students and their parents has been phenomenal,” Dr. Smith said. “They appreciate the opportunity to pause and celebrate, especially given all that is going on right now.”

Video of the degree conferral is available on Facebook.