Arts and Entertainment

The importance and history of commencement on the next 'Digging Deeper' on WPSU

President Barron's show will air at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. March 21 on WPSU-TV and can be streamed from WPSU's website

Commencement weekend for the 2021 spring semester will be held from May 7 to 9. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State President Eric Barron and a trio of University guests will discuss the importance and history of commencement at Penn State during the next episode of WPSU’s “Digging Deeper,” which will air on Sunday, March 21.

Barron will welcome Randy Houston, president of the Penn State Alumni Association; Pia St. Pierre, a student marshal during the fall 2020 commencement ceremonies; and Tracy Powell, associate vice president of strategic communications, for the show.   

WPSU’s “Digging Deeper: Commencement” will air at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on WPSU-TV and can be streamed on live.wpsu.org. WPSU is a Penn State Outreach service.

WPSU's "Digging Deeper: Commencement" will air at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on WPSU-TV and can be streamed on live.wpsu.org. Credit: WPSU Penn State

RELATED: Penn State announced on March 17 its plan to host in-person commencement ceremonies in May.

For St. Pierre, she said commencement is a time to celebrate your accomplishments.

“Obviously getting your degree is super important, but having a time to celebrate your accomplishments and look back on what you've learned and what's coming next, that's really what commencement means to me,” she said. “I was able to gather with my family, and we were able to spend that time together. I think that's really valuable.”

WPSU’s “Digging Deeper” explores how work being done at the University impacts the broader community. Penn State senior Rhea Jha serves as co-host and rounds out each episode by asking Barron questions that are on the minds of students, faculty, staff and community members.

Visit the WPSU website for more information on central Pennsylvania’s public media station.

Last Updated March 18, 2021

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