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Kale, who has been studying at Arizona State University, had
planned the day for months. Her parents and brother would fly in
from India, and a social media clock counted down the days until
out-of-state friends would arrive in Phoenix for a big party.
But in March, the coronavirus pandemic ended those plans, as
colleges nationwide closed down to stop the spread.
"The clock stopped at T minus 67," said Kale, 40.
But the ceremony will take place, after all - just not as she
anticipated.
Cameras pre-recorded Kale and about 140 of her fellow graduates
as they logged on at home this week, dressed in graduation robes
and mortar board caps. They took turns moving a
remote-controlled robot on a podium at the university that held
an eye-level display showing their face. Via the robot, they
approached the dean to receive their diplomas and take a photo.
The pre-pandemic robots from Double Robotics, based in
Burlingame, California, had been used to allow people to show up
at weddings and funerals without traveling.
The "bittersweet" experience - shot and edited over two days -
may not be ideal for the students, said Dean Sanjeev Khagram,
but "we want to show that we did everything that we could to
celebrate them."
Kale will throw a watch party with her husband at home and her
family in India when the three-hour event is webcast on YouTube
on Monday.
Adjusting to the online experience was easy for millennial Nancy
Sierras Morales, 22, the first in her family to graduate
college.
"We have been able to adapt very quickly because we are used to
being on a computer and on the phone almost like 24/7," she
said. "Graduating virtually, it's not ideal but it's actually
also very cool and iconic to be like the first class ever to do
this."
When the lockdown is over, the class of 2020 can do a real-life
walk at any future graduation ceremony they choose.
"I'm disappointed I'm not doing it on May the 11th... but I will
get to experience this innovative, creative event anyway," said
Douglas Northcott, 41, who is graduating with a Masters in
Applied Leadership and Management.
"And if anything, that makes it better, in that is spread over
two times rather than one."
(Reporting by Jane Ross; Writing by Richard Chang; Editing by
Rosalba O'Brien)
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