A year after its graduation, West Chester University is celebrating the Class of 2020 with 14 in-person commencement ceremonies, writes Beccah Hendrickson for 6ABC.

Each of the outdoor ceremonies will honor around 200 students over three weekends. The graduates were happy to return to the campus a year later, but many thought the day would come much sooner than it did.

“Two weeks turned into a month,” said Yamilet Reyes. “A month turned into two months. Two months turned into the whole summer, then turned into a year.”

The faculty and staff at the university were just as excited about the celebrations as the graduates.

“We promised them that when it was safe to do so, we’d bring them back and help them have a way to celebrate it,” said Jen Bacon, Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. “I’m so glad that we were able to do that for them today.”

After the Class of 2020 has its moment to shine, the Class of 2021 will get to attend its graduation ceremony in a similar way. A total of 29 graduations will be held this year at the university.

Read more about West Chester Univerity at 6ABC.