NWCCD graduations to be ‘live’ this weekend

After having been canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, graduation ceremonies will be in-person at both the Gillette and Sheridan College campuses this year – and excitement is high.

Wendy Smith, who’s an associate vice president with the Northern Wyoming Community College District, said that’s what she’s seeing.

Smith said with approval of both state and local health officials, the two colleges will be able to relax safety guidelines slightly. She said those attending the events will be asked to social distance, but masks will be optional. Anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms is asked to please not attend any event in person.

Events at Sheridan College will start at 8 a.m. Saturday with the pinning ceremony for the nursing program students. That will be in Kinnison Hall in the college’s Whitney Center for the Arts. At 10:30 a.m., also in Kinnison Hall, a pinning ceremony will be held for dental hygiene students.

The commencement ceremony will be at 1 p.m. in the Bruce Hoffman Golden Dome.

Events at Sheridan College will be preceded by graduation ceremonies at Gillette College. Those will be at 7 p.m. Friday in the Gillette College’s Pronghorn Center.

Jen Crouse, who’s the college district’s vice president for student affairs, will be the speaker at both commencement ceremonies.

For those who want to see the graduation ceremonies but can’t, or don’t want to, attend in person, Smith said the Sheridan College ceremonies will be livestreamed as follows::

For the nursing pinning ceremony, on the Sheridan College YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlk7-tLIYpNyw1tUr10L6A).

For the dental hygiene pinning ceremony, on the Sheridan College YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlk7-tLIYpNyw1tUr10L6A).

For the Sheridan College commencement ceremony, on the Sheridan College YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlk7-tLIYpNyw1tUr10L6A).