Brianna Bicker of Delmont recalled how strange it was for students starting at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg campus in fall 2020, where they didn’t eat their meals in the dining room, had few people attend class in person and couldn’t gather in large groups because of the covid-19 pandemic-related restrictions.
“It was weird having really empty classrooms and studying online,” Bicker said. “I had to do a lab experiment, with strawberries, in the dorm.” Bicker, 22, graduated with a degree in biological science Saturday from the UPG campus in Hempfield.
Bicker, who wants to go onto graduate school to study entomology, was among about 200 graduates who got their diplomas Saturday in two ceremonies at UPG. Families and friends packed the Chambers Hall gymnasium for both.
Those graduates who went through four years of college are the first graduating class to have an entire post-high school education impacted by the covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
UPG President Robert Gregerson, who began his tenure in the summer of the 2019-2020 academic year, recalled how few students were on campus in fall 2020.
“The majority (of students) were hybrid,” after being fully online in the spring of 2020, Gregerson said.
Out of necessity, Gregerson said, “we had learned more about how to do online courses,” and now UPG offers more online, particularly during the summer.
Splitting commencement remains
One thing that has been kept intact as a result of the covid-19 restrictions was having two commencement ceremonies, Gregerson said.
By dividing the graduating class into two, Gregerson said students are able to have four family members join them in a “pod” row of seats for graduation, rather than just two .
“That turned out to be more important to people,” Gregerson said.
As she was leaving commencement, Breanna Tomsey of Chicora, a co-valedictorian, said that it didn’t feel like her college career was completed.
“The reality will set in,” Tomsey said.
Tomsey, 21, a Karns City High graduate, was one of those students who came to the UPG campus in fall 2020.
“I thought it was important for the whole college experience and education,” Tomsey said, noting however, that she realized “I missed out on a lot of things” because of covid-19.
Tomsey said she plans to work some this summer and take a break for fun before entering Duquesne University’s law school in the fall.
She already has had a taste of criminal law, having worked as an administrative assistant for Westmoreland County Judge Christopher Feliciani and having witnessed criminal trials and proceedings.
“I have a lot to look forward to,” Tomsey said.
Fellow graduate Makala Ruffin of North Versailles, who graduated with a degree in natural science, is looking forward to graduate school where she wants to study to become a physician’s assistant.
Ruffin, 22, an East Allegheny High School graduate, wants to pursue a career in trauma and emergency medicine.
“I want to be able to help people,” Ruffin said.
The concept of helping other people and helping the community in general was one of the message of state Rep. Andrew Kuzma, R-Elizabeth, a 2018 UPG graduate who gave the graduation address.
“Support yourself, support your family and support your community,” Kuzma said.
Kuzma, who maintains a law practice, urged the graduates not to be discouraged, even if they face multiple rejections in their life.
“It only takes one yes to erase all that ‘no’,“ Kuzma said.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.