Special to 1812Blockhouse
Two ceremonies. Three Buckeye speakers. Thousands of graduates and their families and friends. The Ohio State University is planning a weekend to celebrate academic success.
Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day and his wife, Nina, will serve as the speakers for the university’s 2020 graduate celebration next month. Bruce A. McPheron, executive vice president and provost, will address summer 2021 graduates and their families at a commencement ceremony the same weekend.
The dual events mark a return to near-normal celebrations since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.
“Ryan and Nina are prominent members of our Buckeye community and have long served as well-spoken and highly recognized ambassadors of all Ohio State has to offer; it’s both fitting and exciting that our 2020 graduates and their families will have the opportunity to hear their inspirational message,” said President Kristina M. Johnson. “Bruce is an exceptional leader and an exemplary, lifelong Buckeye. I know he will provide unique insights and advice to our 2021 summer graduates. I extend my thanks to all three in advance for making our next round of in-person commencement celebrations both meaningful and memorable.”
Longtime advocates for children’s mental health, Ryan and Nina Day established The Christina and Ryan Day Fund for Pediatric and Adolescent Mental Wellness at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in support of mental fitness for children and young adults.
The celebration of 2020 graduates’ accomplishments in the face of the pandemic will be held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7, at Ohio Stadium. Tickets are not required, though graduates are asked to RSVP. Attendees can wear academic regalia but it is not required.
Ohio State previously honored the Class of 2020 in virtual ceremonies in May, August and December 2020, with the promise of holding an in-person celebration when it was safe to do so. Visit the commencement website for more information on the 2020 celebration.
McPheron, an Ohio State alumnus, will end his term as executive vice president and provost at the end of July. He will continue to serve as a professor of entomology in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
As provost, McPheron focused on advancing teaching and learning across all of Ohio State’s campuses. Innovations during his term include the Teaching Support Program and the Digital Flagship collaboration with Apple. He also helped oversee the establishment of the university’s Translational Data Analytics Institute and the development of the West Campus Innovation District.
New graduates will celebrate their accomplishments at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 8. The university will resume holding summer commencement in its traditional location, the Schottenstein Center. Tickets are not required.
Visit the commencement website for more on the summer 2021 commencement.
