Celebrating Computer Science graduates

This has been a most unusual spring. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for social distancing, Tufts University shifted all classes to distance learning, canceled campus events, and postponed the annual in-person Commencement ceremony, which will be held at a later date.

Instead, Tufts University virtually conferred degrees, and schools and departments sponsored a range of synchronous and asynchronous opportunities to celebrate graduates. The Department of Computer Science held a virtual Celebration of Graduates event to help CS students mark the occasion. On Sunday, May 17, more than 400 students, parents, faculty members, and staff virtually joined together on Zoom to celebrate the department’s more than 200 graduates.

Kathleen Fisher, Professor and Chair of the Department of Computer Science, opened the event with highlights of the 2019-20 academic year, including the addition of five new faculty members, the creation of new student groups, and many successful department events. Fisher applauded the Women in Computer Science student group, which hosted its third annual Women in Tech Conference in 2019, as well as a number of other students who presented at conferences and events. Whether they represented the CS department by being part of the biggest-ever Tufts CS contingent at the Grace Hopper Celebration, by teaming up at the Cyber 9/12 Security Challenge, or by making it to the final round of the Tufts $100K New Ventures Competition, Tufts CS students made the department proud.

At the Celebration of Graduates event, four graduating students spoke about their time at Tufts and the future ahead. Dylan Cashman, PhD graduate, and seniors Kingsley Udoyi, Lexi Walker, and Caroline Kaufman addressed those who gathered, sharing their thoughts, thanks, and memories of how the Tufts community touched their lives.

Faculty members took turns acknowledging students who had won awards and completed honors theses. They then read the name of each computer science graduate in the Class of 2020. The chat feed buzzed as congratulations were sent to grads by friends and family!

Fisher closed by congratulating the graduates, and the friends and families who had supported them, stating that they should be very proud of their accomplishments. The event finished to thunderous applause.

The Department of Computer Science congratulates the graduating Class of 2020!

Watch a recording of the Celebration of Graduates.