Downtime during the pandemic has apparently been a good thing for grad students at Boise State.  They've been hitting the books hard, and now a record number of them will earn the highest degree possible.

I remember the feeling I had when I was about to get my Bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska, and it was similar to the feeling I had during childbirth.  "I never thought this day would get here and now I'm close enough to see the light at the end of the tunnel and Dear God, can we please hit the finish line quick because I am DYING!"  After four years of intense work in college, I was exhausted and delirious and I was thrilled when graduation day finally arrived.

I have so much admiration for graduate students who cross the finish line, pick up a Bachelor's degree, and start another marathon.  That is some dedication!  I've heard that the pandemic has caused a lot of people to reevaluate priorities and rededicate themselves to goals, and maybe that's what happened for some students at Boise State.  The university has a record number of doctorate degrees to award this spring, perhaps because a record number of students doubled down during the pandemic and traded Netflix binges for study marathons.  Whatever the reason, some very educated grads are about to be turned loose in Boise.

Boise State said "...a record 35 Boise State students are eligible for doctoral degrees in biomolecular sciences; curriculum and instruction; electrical and computer engineering; educational technology; ecology, evolution and behavior; materials science and engineering; and doctor of nursing practice. In all, 3,032 students are eligible for 3,666 degrees and certificates, with 1,036 students eligible for honors; 532 cum laude, 395 magna cum laude, and 109 summa cum laude."  All of the hard work has paid off.

There are three in-person commencement ceremonies scheduled between Friday, May 7, and Saturday, May 8 at Albertsons Stadium.  The first ceremony Friday at 4 PM will celebrate 2020 grads whose ceremonies were impacted by the pandemic.  Saturday's ceremonies at 10 AM and 4 PM will award diplomas by specific colleges at Boise State.

With this weekend's graduation, the number of Boise State living alumni will grow to more than 100,000.  Congrats everybody!

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