Even though COVID-19 closed WVU's campus in early March, students in the Reed College
of Media continued with their hands-on, project-based coursework from afar. They explored
new ways to interview, report and produce stories, leading to publication for two studentsin a
statewide media outlet.
Journalism students Kayla Starcher and Maxwell Shavers produced stories as part of a podcasting class
with teaching associate professor Emily Corio.Students transitioned to cover the impact of coronavirus on theirhometowns for thefinal episode ofHigh Street Beat,the class’s three-part, 20-minute collaborative show.
The COVID-19 global pandemic forced universities across the nation to rethink commencement
ceremonies and move celebrations online. West Virginia University held its first
virtual commencement ceremony, and the College of Media recognized graduates, including
the first from the Sports and Adventure Media major, through social media and a
new online yearbook.
On May 16, WVU held
Mountaineer Graduation Day, an onlinecommencementexperienceforMay 2020 graduates. While the ceremony was unlike any in the history of the
University, it still featured key elements of the traditional May ceremony.
Provost Maryanne Reed congratulated graduates,
President E. Gordon Gee gave a keynote address and conferred degrees, and students
moved their tassels to the left before singing “Country Roads” from their homes
all over the world.