By Jay Hammel

Quincy University is thrilled to welcome back the COVID class of 2020 Hawks this weekend and reward them with their promised graduation commencement happening on Saturday, September 5th.

The 2020 graduating class comprises of 209 undergraduates with an additional 22 graduate degree recipients per QU Twitter.

Despite the previous 156 single ceremony commencements, the university has modified this years’ into three different parts to keep crowds limited while creating more safety for everyone on campus.

As COVID-19 continued to shut things down, this postponement for 2020 commencement was no surprise.

For QU graduate Nathan Blauser, it was more of a future concern to when it would be safe enough to be rescheduled.

Returning back to campus for graduation is something Blauser has been looking forward to given this is where his love journey began.

Blauser tied the knot with a classmate of his and 2020 QU graduate Susie Blauser in between the expected graduation date and the rescheduled date.

“I’m thankful that QU was able to pull this off as my wife and I will be able to walk the “stage” together and enjoy this accomplishment as a family,” Blauser said.

The Texas native’s career aim is to earn his CFA and work in equity analysis or wealth management while he resides in St. Louis with his wife Susie, who is a registered nurse at Mercy Hospital St. Louis.

Unlike Blauser, graduate Sam Stephens is in a different stage of his life and stayed to pursue a master’s degree while living out his baseball dream.

Being away from Quincy this summer in addition to already receiving his diploma through the mail encouraged Stephens to think the walk wasn’t necessary for him.

Though he feels like it is a good idea for some who really wanted to experience this achievement.

“I think that if it was in May and there were no restrictions due to COVID I would have been a part of it and wouldn’t have thought twice,” Stephens said. “It never really felt like I graduated so I didn’t want to walk.”

Stephens is seeking a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) degree and hopes to accomplish big things on the diamond in his final two years representing the Hawks.

As Blauser arrives back to his Alma mater, he is delighted to reserve this weekend with Susie and be able to reflect early on in their journey thus far.

“It’s always good to see our friends who we experienced QU with and we are incredibly excited to see Quincy again after a short time away,” Blauser said.

The ceremonies took place at the QU Football and Lacrosse Stadium at the times, 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 2 p.m.