Originally postponed until Oct. 3, 2020, the class of 2020 won’t be able to walk the stage until April 17, 2021. Calvin University President Michael Le Roy announced this in an email to graduates last Friday.

“At this time, we believe it is highly unlikely that conditions necessary for a large celebratory gathering (indoors or outdoors) consisting of thousands of people will be permitted in October,” the email said.

An online graduation ceremony did take place on the original date of May 23, 2020.

Le Roy noted that as the time increased between students graduating and the ceremony itself, students’ feelings about the ceremony would change.

2020 graduate Janay Faulkner posted a meme to the popular Calvin meme page, Calvin Memes for CRC Teens, that said she figured the announcement was coming, but that it left her disappointed anyways.

2020 graduate Purun Yeo said he thinks the administration is making a wise decision in pushing back the date but worries about graduates being able to make the ceremony. “I’d love to [come to the ceremony], but I’ll most likely be taking final exams for grad school.” Yeo said. “Others in my class will be working or will have moved too far to come. Not the administration’s fault, but just an unfortunate situation all around.”

However, alumni are excited to celebrate in person. 2020 graduate Parker Roeda said, “Graduation is going to be a big reunion for our grade, so I am looking forward to attending it whenever it may be!”