LORMAN — Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Alcorn State University will honor its spring 2020 graduates Saturday through its first virtual commencement ceremony.

“While no one could have anticipated recent events, I want our graduates and their families to know how excited and proud we are to recognize the hard work and accomplishments of our graduating class,“ Alcorn State University President Felecia Nave said. “Although we cannot replace the experience of walking across the stage, we hope graduates and their families will still be able to mark and celebrate this very special occasion.”

The virtual ceremony will have many of the elements of a traditional commencement ceremony including the reading of graduates’ names.

Alcorn State University will award degrees to 466 students, including 73 graduate degrees, and recognize students who have earned academic honors. Friends and family members of those in the Class of 2020 are invited to gather together online as the University recognizes the graduates and confers their degrees.

The ceremony will be livestreamed on the university’s website. Commencement will begin at 9 a.m. and will also recognize its Golden Class of 1970. Graduates are encouraged to share photos of their in-home celebrations on social media using the hashtag #AlcornGrad20.

The university also plans to offer all spring 2020 graduates the opportunity to walk in a future commencement ceremony.

Following commencement, each graduate will be mailed an “ASU Grad Pack” which will include a diploma, stole, honor cords, official transcript, commencement booklet and a commemorative USB flash drive of the virtual ceremony.

Specific information about viewing the event will be posted on the university’s website.