RBC to Hold Virtual Commencement Ceremony
Commencement 2020 at Richard Bland College of William & Mary will be streamed virtually for graduates on May 13 at 6 pm. Victor K. Branch ’82, Richmond Market President for Bank of America and recipient of the College’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017, will deliver the keynote address. Alden Di Dio, Vice President of the Student Assembly, will speak on behalf of the Class of 2020.
The ceremony can be viewed on the college website, YouTube andVimeo channels listed below:
https://vimeo.com/user61876937
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of RBC’s commencement ceremony.
President Debbie L. Sydow will preside over the 57th ceremony that will be available on the RBC website, Facebook, Vimeo, and YouTube Channels.
“The Class of 2020 has been remarkably resilient in completing a portion of their final semester online during a pandemic,” says Sydow. “Even though this year’s format will not allow for the traditional handshakes, awarding of diplomas and turning of tassels on graduation caps, it will honor and celebrate an absolutely extraordinary graduating class.“
The virtual ceremony will provide traditional commencement customs, including a Faculty declaration by Associate Professor of Mathematics Dannie Hudson and the national anthem performed by the Musical Statesmen. Remarks will be made by John Littlel, Rector of the William & Mary Board of Visitors.
The virtual ceremony will conclude with the conferring of associate degrees to 252 students.
Mr. Branch, a longtime supporter of RBC, will deliver the commencement address. After graduating from RBC in 1982, he earned a B.A. degree in sociology from William & Mary. He currently is the Richmond Market President for Bank of America and was a director on the Richard Bland College Foundation from 1987-1991 and 2009-2015. Branch chairs the Virginia Gateway Economic Development Alliance and serves as a trustee of the Center Stage Alliance.
