Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Shown is a screenshot from Finlandia University’s livestream of their graduation on Thursday evening.

HANCOCK — The large crowd, the beaming graduates and the flipped tassels only appeared in file footage. But despite the disruption caused by COVID-19, Finlandia University found a way to honor its 81 graduates with a virtual commencement ceremony, livestreamed on its website Thursday night. 

“Today, together, even if virtually, we celebrate the grand academic achievements of this year’s graduating class,” President Philip Johnson said. 

This year’s student speaker was Nicholas Tobey, who graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Johnson said Tobey embodies Finlandia’s highest aspiration for its graduates: “to be academically successful, socially responsible and community-engaged.”

When he first arrived on campus, Tobey’s goals were to play hockey, get his degree and move on. Inspired by his freshman roommate, a high-achieving senior who spoke at graduation, he became more involved in the campus. 

He will remember the “sisu” of his fellow classmates, demonstrated through every high from coursework to snow-shoveling. And he’ll remember the increase in school spirit, with more students sporting Finlandia apparel and going to campus events. 

“There’s nothing I love more than home hockey games and listening to the baseball team cheer and yell the whole game,” he said. “The highlight of my whole hockey career was after each one getting to slam the boards and celebrate with all the students.”

The sense of community the class of 2020 created has trickled down to other students, he said. 

“A lot of people may be upset that we missed out on some things our senior year, like getting to walk at graduation, but I don’t look at it this way,” he said. “Instead, remember how special of a class we are. Remember how the whole world will always remember us and the class and the year of 2020.”

Commencement speaker was Darlene King, a 1990 graduate of what was then Suomi College. She is now executive director of the Michigan Diversity Council.  

Coming to Suomi was her parents’ idea; she had wanted to go a historically black college like Howard University. But in the U.P., she learned about unfamiliar things like snowshoeing and ice carving. And being here helped open her eyes to the career she’s had for 20-plus years: helping people regardless of race, nationality or sexual orientation.

“Find your purpose, and when it comes to you in different shapes, forms and fashions, embrace it, because it’s gonna make you stronger and help you grow,” she said. 

In place of decorated mortarboards, students selected quotes to accompany their photo during the listing of graduates. Many thanked family or professors. Some were more colorful. 

“I did it for my dog,” read the quote for nursing graduate Brianne Maggio. 

The commencement is available to watch at youtube.com/watch?v=jI0GCCDAOGQ.