Reno Reporter

Spring commencement at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), has come back to the Quad, a recent UNR news release said. From Thursday, May 12, to Saturday, May 14, the University's Spring 2022 graduation celebrations made a new return to the historic Quadrangle. 

As a result of the long COVID-19 pandemic, the last time a spring graduation ceremony was held on the Quad was in 2019. After that year, a virtual spring graduation was held in 2020.

"Today we restore this wonderful University tradition of being on the Quad to celebrate all of you," UNR President Brian Sandoval said on May 13. "The Quad is part of that silver thread that connects all of our graduates. It's been three years since a graduate walked this hallowed ground."

Sandoval has a general optimism for the future, not just about a return of commencement to the Quad.

"And what about dreams?" he said to the graduates. "Can we still allow ourselves to dream when the world is faced with so many challenges? I think we can. What's more, I think we must. Your dreams are indeed worth every ounce of energy that you've given them."

During the Thursday morning ceremony, the University gave out the Herz Gold Medal — its most prestigious student academic honor — to Nicole Alexandra Shepherd, the release said. Shepherd, a dual-major graduate, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration specializing in accounting; as well as a Bachelor of Music degree with a focus on clarinet performance, with a minor in mathematics. Additionally, she volunteered with the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program and interned with KPMG in auditing.

Shepherd will start with KPMG as an audit associate in their Sacramento office after graduation.