Goshen College class of 2020 finally walks the stage five years later 

GOSHEN, Ind—In 2020, thousands of colleges across the nation had a virtual graduation ceremony because of COVID-19.  

As Goshen College celebrates their homecoming weekend alumni get a second chance at a big milestone. Many Goshen students were left without one of the crucial parts of their four-year experience, walking across the stage and receiving your diploma.  

Brandy Lowe, a Goshen College alum, says, “I was sitting in my house crying, watching the virtual ceremony five years ago, and then now today, to truly get to graduate with all of my friends and family here, I'm just so honored and so thankful that Goshen College actually put this on.” 

She decorated her cap five years ago despite the in-person graduation, and now she got to wear it five years later as she crossed the stage. She explains, "Five years ago, when we graduated virtually, we all got sent our diplomas and the caps. So, I graduated, and I always was obsessed with Duncan, the friends show the show Friends. And then my family, of course, helped me through this, so I decorated it. I had an and symbol here, but it kind of came off over five years.” 

Alumni were joined by friends they have not seen since 2020. Tanner Camp a 2020 alum says, “I had been with them for four years, they got me through college. So I think that's the part that I love, just being with my classmates, some of them I haven't seen since being back on campus five years ago.” 

At the reception, the class got to sign the historic book that has been signed by students at graduation since 1910. As they walked those final steps across the stage, Diana Boussom says, a chapter closes in their books. “It makes me feel more like, oh yes, this is a chapter in my book that I can finally say has a complete ending, which is really nice.” 

While many former students are on different walks of life, they got the opportunity to unite and celebrate four years of hard work, five years later.