As University of Colorado Colorado Springs graduate Eriqa Hallam prepared to receive her bachelor’s degree in inclusive education, standing in the tunnels of the Broadmoor World Arena Friday morning, she said her freshman self wouldn’t believe it.

“If I could go back and tell my freshman self, who was taking all online classes, that you’re going to make it, you’re going to make it across that stage, I would have said, you’re lying,” Hallam said.

Hallam, along with the over 1,380 graduating students walking at the 2024 UCCS commencement ceremonies Friday experienced far from an average college education, embarking on their academic careers amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.

For a second straight year, UCCS has broken a record for the largest commencement ceremony in university history, with an additional 400-plus students receiving degrees this year who weren’t able to attend Friday’s commencement ceremony.

Ellie Knopp, twin sister of slain UCCS senior Samuel Knopp, received a standing ovation as she accepted his posthumous diploma. Samuel Knopp, along with Celie Montgomery, were shot to death in Knopp’s UCCS dorm on Feb. 16, 2024.

Despite the presence of Pro-Palestinian protesters on-campus in the weeks leading up to the UCCS commencement ceremony, no demonstrations in support of the movement were seen inside the arena during the Friday ceremony.

An estimated half-dozen protester with signs were seen in the parking lot.

Roughly a dozen pro-Palestinian student protesters who identified themselves with the group “Students for Justice in Palestine” were seen on the UCCS campus demonstrating Wednesday afternoon.

UCCS spokesperson Chris Valentine released the following statement in wake of the on-campus demonstrations:

“UCCS supports our campus community’s right to peacefully protest, as protected by the First Amendment and university policy. Under Colorado law, the open outdoor areas of campus are “student forums” available for student expression, so long as the expression is not materially disruptive and complies with the campus policies for the use of buildings, grounds, and facilities.”

Officials with the university confirmed they did not receive any notice of planned demonstrations at the Friday ceremony, or know of any students that were not in attendance due to a “potential disruption.”

“For some graduates, this is your first in-person graduation since the global pandemic,” Dr. Jane Rigler, UCCS Associate Professor of Flute, Composition, and Interdisciplinary Arts said at the Friday morning ceremony.

“Many graduations looked a little different four years ago than today’s ceremony, so I hope for those of you for whom this is your first in-person graduation that it is filled with extra celebration for you and your family.”

Forced online learning and lack of social connection with peers were among the unwelcome elements of the college experience current graduates faced in their academic careers during the turmoil of the pandemic.

“Things are possible, even when you feel like it’s not. Having gone through this, I can truly tell my students that you can do hard things. You just have to push yourself,” Hallam continued, as she plans to teach the third grade locally in Colorado Springs following graduation.

Friend of Hallam and fellow graduate in inclusive education Colton Haase relayed feelings of gained tenacity during an unpredictable time to be a student.

“Going to school during the pandemic, it gave us perseverance. It showed us, even through the hard days, that we can do it,” Haase said.

“I’m really proud of our graduating class. We have gone through a lot. I know it’s been a challenge, but we made it. We’re here, we’re walking in graduation, we did it.

For Rachel Correia, who graduated from UCCS with a Master of Education in Clinical Health and Counseling, Friday’s commencement felt to be, “a long time coming.”

“I didn’t get to walk for my undergrad because COVID hit right in my senior year, but I would say it made this day so much more special.”

Correia said although she faced a slew of challenges for her higher education, tackling part of her master’s degree online during the pandemic taught her lessons in her field she may not have otherwise learned.

“I would say that the political climate that came from COVID turned out to be a huge piece of counseling. (The pandemic) came at a time when we were able to learn more about the field had it not happened,” Correia said.

UCCS President Todd Saliman addressed the Class of 2024 at Friday’s ceremony, speaking toward the “hard work and perseverance,” that went into receiving the diplomas Friday.

“You all have worked very hard to get here, and you’ve learned more than you’ve probably even realized,” Saliman said.

“You’ve learned about your field of studies of course, but you’ve also learned about life.”

“You’ve learned how to think critically. You’ve learned the developed skills that make you ready for the workforce and the world, and you’ve learned that hard work and perseverance pay off.”