PHOTOS: Sonoma State Holds Drive-Through Graduations

ROHNERT PARK, CA — More than 1,500 Sonoma State University graduates from the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021 were celebrated in festive drive-through-style outdoor commencement ceremonies held the past two weekends.

Last year, because of the coronavirus pandemic, the commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020 was postponed until an in-person event could be scheduled.

Sonoma State coordinated with Sonoma County Public Health officials to develop an outdoor ceremony. In a vehicle procession, 336 graduates from the Class of 2020 arrived Saturday, May 15, at the Green Music Center accompanied by family and friends.

Lined up in their festively decorated cars, they waited until it was their graduate's turn to get out of the car and walk across an outdoor stage with the iconic Weill Hall in the background. As each graduate received their diploma, family and friends stayed in the car and cheered them on and took photos. Each graduate then climbed back into the car and headed off to continue the celebration with their loved ones.

"We want all of the family members and supporters of these graduates, both near and far, to be able to share in this important and memorable event," President Judy Sakaki said. "The hard work and perseverance of these graduates have paid off. We are very proud of the Class of 2020."

Then on Saturday and Sunday, May 22-23, some 1,200 Sonoma State graduates from the Class of 2021 celebrated commencement in the same fashion.

The events were live-streamed so that any graduates or their loved ones who could not attend were still able to enjoy the ceremony from any remote setting.

"The Class of 2021 successfully navigated many challenges over the past year related to myriad social unrest and of course a pandemic that tested their persistence and perseverance," Sakaki said. "We now come together to joyously recognize their academic accomplishments."

Addresses to the graduates from campus members, including Sakaki, the Alumni Association and Provost Karen Moranski, can be viewed online at Sonoma State’s commencement website.