It’s College Commencement Season on the Seacoast in New Hampshire

Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth hosted its commencement ceremonies last weekend and graduates will be celebrated at the University of New Hampshire in Durham starting on Friday.

To safely accommodate the 183 graduates and a limited number of guests, there were four outdoor ceremonies at GBCC on Friday and Saturday.

In total, 343 degrees and certificates were distributed to graduates.

Interim President Cathryn Addy gave the commencement address at each ceremony. When addressing the nursing students, she thanked them.

"While there are a zillion reasons you could have changed your mind this past year, we are grateful that you did not waiver," Addy said. "Those you now serve will be so lucky to have you caring for them."

Nursing student and class speaker Erin Hegerty talked about how she came to the nursing program after witnessing the caregivers who took care of her grandmother as she battled cancer.

"A nurse is an advocate and caregiver for most people during the most difficult time in their lives," Hegerty said.

Hegerty said she and her classmates are "strongly prepared" to become RNs.

UNH Ceremonies to Require Vaccination Card or Negative Test

Starting on Friday at 10 a.m., UNH will host five commencement ceremonies over the course of three days.

Tickets are required and every attendee must show a valid, original COVID-19 vaccination card proving that the bearer is at least two weeks past their final vaccination or a printed copy of negative test results.

A test must have been taken within 72 hours of the ceremony.

Wolf Blitzer, anchor of CNN's "The Situation Room," will deliver the commencement address for both classes via prerecorded video.

All of the ceremonies will take place outside in Wildcat Stadium, rain or shine, and will be livestreamed at www.unh.edu/commencement.

Contact Managing News Editor Kimberley Haas at Kimberley.Haas@townsquaremedia.com.