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Kansas City Goes All Out for UMKC Graduates

Landmarks don the blue and gold while KC influencers share wisdom with graduates
UMKC senior with grad cap stands in front of Union Station lit up in blue and gold
We ran into UMKC graduate Bailey Landis taking photos this weekend in front of Union Station.

We are in awe of how Kansas City came together to celebrate the accoplishments of our new graduates.

We saw you, #Classof2020RooStrong. We saw you celebrate UMKC commencement like never before because these are times like never before.

We saw you, #KC. We saw you go #RooBlue and Gold like never before, and we are humbled and honored by your strong show of support and love for Kansas City’s university.

Together, we have triumphed over adversity with our #RooStrong spirit and are #RooReady to overcome challenges and defeat obstacles. Because #RoosAreEverywhere, we all win.

More than 2,000 UMKC graduates were honored in Commencement ceremonies this weekend. Here are some memorable moments from our community.

First, we sent packets of school spirit out to our seniors to help them celebrate at home. 
this is an animated gif that shows a UMKC Roo, pennant, confetti and other decorative items coming out of a large envelope

 

We spotted some of you taking some social-distanced senior portraits.
student in grad cap and gown next to statue of Henry and Marion Bloch at UMKC
Demarkus Coleman, MBA, took a few senior photos outside the Bloch School.

 

Then, many of our city's beloved landmarks lit up blue and gold to support graduates of Kansas City's university.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art was lit up blue and gold
Our neighbor, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, donned blue and gold.
Kauffman Center for the Performing arts lit up blue and gold
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, at which many of our Conservatory students perform, showed its support for UMKC Roo grads this weekend.

 

Alumni and faculty wrote messages of congratulations and encouragement.
a note from Sue Garnett (B.S.P. '82) saying "Dear Graduates: This was not the ending you planned. It certainly is unlike anything any of us expected. A spring quarter full of promise and celebration, in a matter of weeks, has become a source of grieving. Embrace your degree and all the hard work that went into it. Know that you will be able to make a huge difference in the world you are graduating into."

 

You shared your virtual commencement celebrations on social media. 

graduate in cap and gown throws her hands up in the air when her name appears on the streamed commencement ceremony feed

 

And well-known Kansas Citians shared words of wisdom with our graduates. 

Thank you for making this a Commencement to remember. 
Story by: Strategic Marketing and Communications
Published: May 18, 2020
Posted In: Honors and Awards Student Life
Tags: Future Students Campus History Alumni Prospective Students Current Students Faculty
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