MADISON, Wis. (SPECTRUM NEWS) - Thousands of students graduated from UW-Madison in the university’s first-ever virtual commencement Saturday.

The ceremony combined all undergrad, graduate and PhD students. “This ceremony is very different than the one we planned for,” said chancellor Rebecca Blank. The half-hour program was posted at noon Saturday for Badgers and their families to watch.

There were speeches from senior class officers, the chancellor, and author James Patterson gave the keynote address. There was also an a cappella performance of “Varsity”.

Patterson gave the keynote from his kitchen, decked out with Wisconsin gear. He spoke about how marrying a Badger changed his life. “Before I married Sue, I had to sign a Badger prenup. I had no idea what I was signing,” Patterson said. “Since we’ve been married, I’ve had to watch every single Badger football game, every Badger basketball game, every Badger volleyball game, swim meet, cross country meet, table tennis match.” 

He also encouraged students to be resilient. They’re graduating at at time where the job market is shaky, and changing every day.

Lauren Sorensen is senior class president. She knew going into the planning stages that an online ceremony just wouldn’t compare to the celebration at Camp Randall. “It really is this huge event that combines so many people together,” Sorensen said. “That’s the biggest missing piece when you have to do it virtually.”

There have been lots of mixed feelings about virtual graduation. Some students were planning not to watch, thinking it might just make them sad. Others just thought an online ceremony was unnecessary.

Then some, like Sorensen, really made a day of it. “We’re just going to have a small celebration, eat food and drink champagne.”

While everyone marks the occasion separately, new grads and their families have been posting photos and videos using the hashtag #UWGrad. That way grads can see how their fellow Badgers are celebrating commencement. “At the end of the day, that’s how you kind of try to rebuild a community, is having those videos and photos to look at,” Sorensen said.

The hope is that through the hashtag, students will feel a little more connected to one another as they look back on their college experiences. Sorensen said these last eight weeks, although at a crucial time like graduation, are just one small part of her time at UW. “It was everything I hoped it was gonna be.”

On the UW Commencement page, there are videos from notable alumni offering words of encouragement to the class of 2020. People like Russell Wilson, Rose Lavelle, and Carrie Coon gave positive messages about persevering through adversity.

Blank said they plan to hold an in-person celebration once it’s safe.