Congratulations, Class of 2020!

We have made it to graduation, despite the many obstacles we encountered along the way — some personal, and others collective. Even though we are unable to be together to celebrate this momentous occasion, nothing can take away the fact that we have supported and grown with each other through these last four years. Through adversity, our bonds have only grown stronger.

Working on this yearbook was an incredible privilege, because it gave us an opportunity to remember how incredible this group of young people is, and reflect on all that we are yet to achieve. While we were only able to capture a snapshot of what this class has accomplished, even that glance is inspiring. Looking at the people we are lucky enough to share this virtual Commencement with, we see people who are strong, dedicated, and compassionate enough to move mountains of the heart. The honor of sharing a campus with true makers of change and champions of justice is unparalleled.

It has undoubtedly been a difficult four years, on many fronts. We entered college in the midst of one of the most divisive and vitriolic presidential campaigns in recent memory, and those dynamics continue to define our daily political realities. Now, we are graduating college in the midst of a global pandemic that has brought with it tremendous loss — of life, of ritual, and of time spent together. Members of this class often joke that we were dealt a bad hand, and certainly the end to our college careers are ending much differently than any of us would have preferred.  Regardless, these challenges — and also our countless triumphs — have created memories of our time together that cannot be taken away by time nor pandemic.

We hope that the (virtual) pages of this yearbook serve as a small token of our appreciation and love for each and every one of you. Please know that one of the advantages of a digital ceremony is that this yearbook is a living document; if we missed something that you think is worthy of inclusion, we can work to add it to this site.

We hope that you will stay in touch with us and with each other, and that when we gather together in the future — whether that be at next year’s Commencement or at our 50th reunion in 2070 — that we will look back on this time fondly. We know that we will remember this place as one where people came together from a range of backgrounds and interests, with many different hopes and goals for the future, and worked to lift each other up, to encourage each other to reach a little higher, and push a little farther. It feels good to be with you all, and we trust we have not seen the last opportunity to do so. Until next time.

With love, your yearbook editors,

Nathan Carpenter

Nae McClain