More than two years after they should have donned a graduation gown and cap, crossed the stage and received their college diploma, a group of 2020 St. Ambrose University (SAU) graduates are getting the recognition they earned.
About 100 members of the Class of 2020 will finally get to celebrate their achievement in person at a Celebration Ceremony being planned for Sunday, Sept. 18, at the Galvin Fine Arts Center as part of the annual Homecoming weekend. The private event will be a belated celebration for a class whose lives – including their Spring 2020 graduation ceremony – were put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alumni who would have attended the May or December 2020 ceremonies are invited to participate.
Most fittingly, St. Ambrose President Emerita Sister Joan Lescinski, who was college president at the time, will deliver remarks to the Class of 2020 guests. As of her retirement last year, Sr. Joan had spent nearly 50 years in higher education including 14 years as the Davenport university’s president from 2007-2021.
She helmed more than a decade of growth at SAU that included new campus buildings, an increase in endowed scholarships, and the addition of several new majors and programs.
During her tenure, Sr. Joan was twice recognized in the Quad Cities for her exemplary leadership. She received the Women of Excellence Award from the American Association of University Women, Rock Island-Moline chapter, and the Athena Leadership Award from the Quad Cities chapter of Athena International.
The event is among SAU’s 2022 Homecoming festivities (Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 15-18). Highlights include a Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony; All Alumni Reunion; Affinity Reunions; Taste of Ambrose; Fighting Bees football game, Homecoming Mass, campus tours and more.
