Festive Drive-Thru Celebration Recognizes Class of 2021

Dominican University of California kicked off graduation season on May 5 with a festive and fun drive-through send-off for the Class of 2021 in advance of the virtual commencement ceremony on May 15.

More than 200 cars containing students and household guests drove through the center of campus, cheered on by faculty, staff, and President Mary B. Marcy.

Journalists from KPIX-TV and KGO-TV in San Francisco covered the event, as well as the Marin Independent Journal.

The send-off was an opportunity for faculty and staff to come together to celebrate the Class of 2021 while remaining socially distant. Faculty and staff - all wearing masks - cheered the soon-to-be graduates as students were passengers in cars driven up Acacia Avenue to pick up their academic honors (cords, medallions, etc.) and a gift from the Alumni Association.

Dominican’s formal, virtual commencement was held Saturday, May 15. Degrees were conferred upon 492 undergraduate and graduate students.

In addition to the traditional reading of graduate names and conferral of degrees, the celebration included a special address from President Marcy and recognition of Dominican’s Outstanding Students and Faculty of the Year.

In addition to the traditional reading of graduate names, all registrants had the opportunity to engage in the ceremony and congratulate the graduates via chat and social media.

President Marcy last month bestowed honorary doctorates of humane letters upon County of Marin public health officer Dr. Matt Willis and deputy officer Dr. Lisa Santora in recognition of their tireless public health leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and their exceptional commitment to public service and to Dominican. The degrees – the Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa – were presented at the April 27 meeting of the Marin County Board of Supervisors.