NEWPORT — The COVID-19 pandemic may have moved the ceremony from the Cliff Walk to the digital world, but Salve Regina University still celebrated its graduation as scheduled on Sunday, May 17. Although the university will host more traditional commencement exercises later this year, the virtual ceremony marked the official conferral of slightly more than 700 degrees, including bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.
In her opening prayer, Dr. Theresa Ladrigan-Whelpley, the vice president for Mission Integration, noted that the ongoing health crisis has not overcome Salve's spirit: “Although these final months were not as anticipated.” she said. “Our Salve students have embodied the mission and values of our institution in their response to this global pandemic and throughout their education.”
The members of the Class of 2020 were the first Seahawks to graduate under the leadership of new university president Dr. Kelly J. Armstrong.
In her address, Armstrong thanked the graduating seniors for “welcoming me with warmth, enthusiasm and open arms,” and said that they had all “demonstrated the very best of what it means to be a Salve student.”
At the conclusion of the ceremony, as the names of each graduate appeared on screen, the university's a cappella group performed a very lively arrangement of “Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above,” the school song, paired with short inspirational messages recorded by various members of the faculty and staff.
