LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Saturday, May 9, 2020, was commencement day for the University of Louisville's 2020 graduates. But the traditional ceremony at the KFC Yum! Center is on hold until December because of coronavirus. However, the university still honored Cardinal graduates virtually for their hard work and perseverance, not just during the pandemic but over the last four years. 

A "Here and Beyond 2020" website went live Saturday morning that paid tribute to the graduates. The site was so popular that it temporarily crashed.

“It would have been a beautiful day to walk and have a graduation," said Morgan Stephens. The 23-year-old was one of over 3,200 graduates Saturday that officially received their degree virtually.

“By the power given to me by the Board of Trustees, I am now pleased to confer upon each and every one of you the degrees and certificates you have earned upon the recommendation of the faculties of your schools and colleges,” said university President Dr. Neeli Bendapudi via a pre-recorded message for the graduates.

It's not the same as the real deal, but for Stephens, the first in her family to graduate college, appreciated the website made for the graduates. 

“For everyone to just kind of come together and say, like, 'Hey we see you, and we recognize you, and we are very proud of you,' that’s a really good feeling," Stephens said.

Stephens worked full-time while going to school full-time to get her English degree.

“I want better for myself; my mom wanted better for me than what she’s had to do as a single parent. So I really, you know, took the ball and ran with it, and I really wanted to prove to myself that I could do it," Stephens told Spectrum News 1.

In total 22 university and Commonwealth leaders paid tribute to the class of 2020, including U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, and Governor Andy Beshear, D-Kentucky. 

Dr. Bendapudi also announced that a popular area on campus will now be called the 2020 Quad and a permanent marker will be placed there to recognize that dedication.

To see all video tributes for the 2020 class, including photos and messages from graduates, visit the Here and Beyond 2020 website.