{"id":5934,"date":"2020-07-30T09:21:47","date_gmt":"2020-07-30T09:21:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/?p=5934"},"modified":"2020-07-30T10:43:09","modified_gmt":"2020-07-30T10:43:09","slug":"a-virtual-celebration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/2020\/07\/30\/a-virtual-celebration\/","title":{"rendered":"A Virtual Celebration"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Following the University\u2019s difficult decision to postpone this year\u2019s graduation ceremonies due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CONNECTED shares with you the latest news about the Class of 2020 Virtual Celebrations that will be taking place instead.<\/span><\/p>\n

The University of Reading has reluctantly decided that holding our traditional graduation ceremonies in 2020 will not be possible, due to the necessary restrictions in place to protect everyone\u2019s health. Our students deserve an event that will enable them to celebrate their achievements properly, surrounded by their family and friends.<\/p>\n

Therefore, all students expecting to graduate this July or December will be invited to attend a ceremony in July 2021. But we don\u2019t want our finalists to miss out this year either, which is why we will also be running a series of virtual celebration events starting on 27 July for three weeks, to give our finalists the opportunity to reflect on everything they have achieved.<\/p>\n

Sharing positive messages<\/strong><\/h4>\n

To enable students, academics and supporters to celebrate our finalists\u2019 achievements, Reading is utilising a social learning platform, Flipgrid, which aims to engage and empower voices by recording and sharing short videos.<\/p>\n

Each School at the University will have their own Flipgrid page where students, academics, support staff, family, friends and supporters can leave video messages of thanks, congratulations and positive encouragement. The webpage will also feature video messages from the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and Heads of School.<\/p>\n

Our alumni have also been fantastic at stepping up to support our finalists during Reading\u2019s first ever virtual celebrations. Video messages feature notes of support from Laura Tobin, who presents the daily weather forecast on ITV\u2019s Good Morning Britain; Cath Bishop, Olympic medal winner, speaker and author; Coralie Bickford-Smith, award-winning book cover designer; Joanna Abeyie, Founder of Blue Moon which helps organisations diversify their workforce and leadership; and Justin Fletcher, children\u2019s TV presenter who appears as the award-winning comedian Mr Tumble.<\/p>\n

Your support means so much during a time filled with unknowns; completing your university studies can feel exciting but also daunting to many, not least during a pandemic.<\/p>\n

All our alumni videos of congratulations will be posted on our Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and Facebook<\/a> accounts, and you can watch Laura Tobin’s message of congratulations here:<\/p>\n

.@Lauratobin1<\/a> left @UniRdg_Met<\/a> with her BSc Meteorology in 2003, was the @UniRdg_Alumni<\/a> Alumnus of the Year in 2016, and has a special message to the #UoRClassof2020<\/a> as they leave us and go out into the world. Thanks Laura, and congratulations to our graduates \u2764\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/qzAjhylnu5<\/a><\/p>— Uni of Reading (@UniofReading) July 28, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>