It has been more than one year since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted normal life. That was especially for last year's graduates at the University of Nevada, Reno. They moved from on-campus classes to virtual classrooms. Instead of in-person commencement ceremonies, they had a virtual graduation. This week, UNR is holding two in-person ceremonies for the class of 2020.

"It's surreal," Natashja Atherton, Economics & Philosophy graduate said. "I can't believe we're here. I'm super excited. It's been a day we've been looking forward to for a year and it finally feels like the chapter is closed."

"It finally means closure to such a huge chapter in my life to be able to be here and celebrate with friends and family," Solène Alma Mascarelli, Communications & French graduate said. "You know, it's been a hard past year for everybody so to finally have a little bit of normalcy is great."

The university had to get state approval to hold an in-person graduation event. It made the move when the COVID-19 situation improved in Nevada.

"It just really broke my heart for the 2020 graduates not to be able to have that moment, that lifetime moment that everyone who graduates remembers for the rest of their lives," Brian Sandoval, President of UNR said.

The class of 2020 finished college at a difficult time. Not only was it a challenge to finish class but they were entering a workforce during one of the worst economic situations in our state's history.

"It was definitely challenging, for sure," Jackson Bigelow, Information Systems graduate said. "I actually kind of explored some different career paths and figured out what I wanted to do. Yeah, it all worked out for the best."

"I broadened my horizons just to kind of figure out what I wanted to do and what was available in a time when people like didn't want to hire and didn't want to expand their business," Michael Aboussie, Marketing graduate said.

"I've just had the same job since junior year," Atherton said. "Thank goodness I didn't have to look for a new job but my friends struggled a lot. Some still don't have one."

The pandemic has taken 5,515 lives in Nevada. Some of them were family and friends of UNR's graduates.

"I had my grandma live with us for six months," Aubrey Thomas, Marketing graduate said. "She actually passed away from COVID, unfortunately, and she got to see me graduate last year but this is the big deal. So I'm really excited to have my mom and dad here with me to see me graduate."

Wednesday morning's ceremony was UNR's first to ever be held at Mackay Stadium. The spring commencement is traditionally held at the quad on the south end of campus.

"It's a bummer that we didn't get to graduate on the quad because it's so beautiful but I think this is pretty spectacular too," Samantha Vasenden, International Business & Administration graduate said.

"The quad means a lot to all of us and I think it's very special and I am sad to not be graduating there but I think this is the next best step," Thomas said.

UNR awarded 3,143 degrees and certificates in the spring of 2020 and 1,949 degrees and certificates in the winter of 2020. It will award 3,258 this spring. The university will hold eight commencement ceremonies from Wednesday to Saturday. Six of those will be for the class of 2021.

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