April 27, 2020
New York Jets Senior Vice President Fred Mangione will deliver keynote address during event on Saturday, May 9
Centenary University will hold its 145th commencement as a virtual event on Saturday, May 9, with Fred Mangione, senior vice president, sales and marketing, for the New York Jets and a 1993 graduate of the University, delivering the keynote address. The event has been planned as a virtual ceremony to comply with New Jersey’s ongoing quarantine as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reflecting the current crisis, the theme of this year’s commencement is Super Salutem Servetis (Safety Before Tradition).
In organizing this year’s commencement, a priority was placed on ensuring that the Class of 2020 graduates on the date originally selected for the ceremony, according to Bruce Murphy, Ph.D., Centenary University president. “It’s very difficult to carry on as normal because these are not normal times,” Dr. Murphy said. “At the same time, the Class of 2020 has worked extremely hard for their degrees and deserve to graduate on time. During this virtual event, I will confer their degrees; that is the essence of all commencement ceremonies.”
When the quarantine is lifted, Murphy has pledged to host the Class of 2020 on campus to celebrate their new status as Centenary University alumni. In addition, members of the class have also been invited to participate in the 2021 commencement ceremony.
Prior to the ceremony, graduates had the choice of picking up their academic regalia, diploma covers, and commencement awards outside the University’s President’s House practicing social distancing or receiving the items through the mail. Graduates have been asked to submit photos of themselves in their caps and gowns for inclusion in the ceremony, which will include a reading of all graduates’ names, as well as speeches from the class valedictorian, transfer valedictorian, and an advanced degree recipient. The contest has also invited graduates to participate in a contest to decorate their commencement caps.
ABOUT CENTENARY UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary University’s academic program integrates a solid liberal arts foundation with a strong career orientation. This mix provides an educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the increasingly global and interdependent world. The University’s main campus is located in Hackettstown, N.J., with its equestrian facility in Washington Township. The Centenary University School of Professional Studies offers degree programs at two locations, Parsippany and Edison, as well as online and at corporate sites throughout New Jersey.