Boise State will hold a virtual commencement celebration, honoring summer and fall 2020 graduates, at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 19. The ceremony will be streamed online at boisestate.edu/commencement and on the university’s Facebook page.
In all, 2,259 students are eligible for 2,612 degrees and certificates, with 527 students eligible for honors; 292 cum laude, 189 magna cum laude and 46 summa cum laude.
“The 2020 class has been incredibly resilient, and the obstacles they continue to conquer will undoubtedly help them become extraordinary leaders in the future,” said Dr. Marlene Tromp, Boise State president. “These graduates will leave a lasting legacy at Boise State University. I look forward to honoring them and their achievements.”
Janelle Thirtyacre, an English education major from Las Vegas, Nevada, who attended high school in Eatonville, Washington, will provide remarks on behalf of the graduating class. As a student teacher at Lake Hazel Middle School in Boise this fall, Thirtyacre faced the challenges of teaching online and partially in-person, along with obstacles she encountered as a student in an uncertain time.
“It is a huge honor to be given this opportunity to represent my graduating class,” Thirtyacre said. “I am so proud of our resilience and ambition this final semester, and I firmly believe we are going to do amazing things. As we go into the world, I hope we all remember to be a little more compassionate towards others, thankful for what we have, and proud of all we have accomplished. Congratulations Class of 2020!”
Watch a video and learn more about Thirtyacre.
Graduates are invited to share their graduation-themed photos and videos, along with shout-outs to family, friends, faculty and others who have helped them along the way, by using the hashtag #BoiseStateGrad on social media, or uploading them to boisestate.edu/commencement. This is a tradition at Boise State, and photos will be shared during commencement.
During the ceremony, Boise State’s College of Education and the Lee Pesky Learning Center will honor four inspirational K-12 teachers with the 10th annual Pesky Award for Inspirational Teaching. The teachers selected this year are: Annette Haag from Orofino Junior-Senior High School in Orofino; Shanon Holt from Borah High School in Boise; David Jones from Kuna High School in Kuna; and Brenda Mckenzie from Valley View Elementary in Boise.
For more information on commencement, including a list of all summer and fall 2020 graduates and their hometowns, please visit boisestate.edu/commencement.