Students from the College of Engineering at Cal State Long Beach were celebrated at the first of seven graduation ceremonies for the classes of 2020 and 2021 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim Friday morning.

Students from both classes were honored as the class of 2020 was only able to graduate virtually due to last year’s coronavirus restrictions.

“I have deep admiration for our 2020 grads, whose academic lives were changed in the course of a few days last spring,” said President Jane Conoley as she addressed the audience. “And for our 2021 grads, who have not seen each other for over 14 months and have accomplished what may have seemed impossible just a year ago, you have tenaciously held onto your dreams.”

The ceremony was certainly unlike previous ones, with graduates and guests socially distanced around the stadium. Graduates did not walk across the stage to individually receive their diplomas, but instead were able to pose on various mini stages throughout the parking lot before the ceremony as their names were announced.

Graduates were limited to two guest tickets each, that could only be used by in-state guests.

Hunter Ly, a 2020 graduate, said that it was still exciting to celebrate a year later.

“I’m doing this mostly for my family,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here without them. And I feel like this is for them to celebrate with me. Because for my actual graduation, I did not do anything. And for them, this is like, one of the biggest events in my life. So I want them to be here and also celebrating.”

Katherine Villa, a class of 2021 graduate in chemical engineering, said that adjusting to online classes was a challenge.

“It definitely took a next level commitment to stay and push through the Zoom and through all my important classes, not being able to see our professors and dedicate more time to actually learn the material when you’re not physically there in person,” she said. “But I mean, perseverance pushed through. It was difficult, but exciting, and I’m glad I did it. I’m glad I’m done and excited for the future.”

Villa is excited to take a break for the next couple months and then begin the job hunt, she said.

Jessy Vu, a graduate of 2021, said he also found adjusting to online classes to be difficult, but is optimistic about the future. Now that he has graduated, he hopes to “hopefully, find a job that I love, and I’m happy with. Just live my life, pretty much.”