A Message to the Class of 2020

May 20, 2020

Dear Graduates,

Every spring, I look forward to graduation. I had certainly not anticipated graduation without an in-person commencement ceremony, but as I reflect on what graduation means for our college community at this moment in history, it is clear that the milestone of graduation means so much more than walking across a stage or moving a tassel from one side of a mortarboard to another. Graduation is a momentous occasion in the lives of students and our families. It is an achievement that recognizes the hard work of our students, and the sacrifice and support of their families, our faculty and our staff.

As graduates, you are joining a legacy of alumni who represent the very best of Anoka-Ramsey Community College – having made a commitment to earning a degree, certificate, or diploma, attending hours of classes, working through rigorous assignments and projects, and engaging in real-world practicum, field, and internship experiences. Our graduates balanced work and family life with the demands of college coursework, connected with new friends and mentors, learned new skills, and worked hard to complete their programs.

The Class of 2020 has also had to forge new ways of getting to the finish line. You have had to adapt to sudden changes and great uncertainties in order to persist and graduate. You’ve moved to online classes and had to connect with your faculty and advisors in new ways, all while managing changes in your lives at work and at home. As you graduate from Anoka-Ramsey Community College, you take with you all you have learned through your programs, and all you have gained through the challenges of your final semester – you have proven yourself to be driven and creative, and to persevere in the face of great adversity and upheaval in the pursuit of graduation.

Today, we celebrate you reaching that goal – graduation – together, even from a distance. Our faculty and staff are proud of your achievements, and welcome you as alumni of Anoka-Ramsey Community College.

Congratulations, Class of 2020!

Kent Hanson, Ph.D. President
Anoka-Ramsey Community College

Faculty and staff also joined President Hanson in a video message to graduates.