Sustainability on Display at Historic Commencement | Plastic Free Challenge

On the Friday evening before commencement, Danforth Campus faculty and staff received a communication that the university would no longer restrict the number of guests allowed each graduate. The recent lifting of local Covid-19 restrictions enabled graduates to invite all of their loved ones to witness this momentous occasion in person; a wonderful gift to celebrate the resilience of the classes of 2020 and 2021.

Among the guideline changes was the ability to serve food, a time-honored tradition following the ceremony. With three days to pull it all together, the planning team worked incredibly hard to coordinate 15,000 meals across 11 receptions (in addition to the 8 meals already planned for the 160 daily staff volunteers). “It was great news not just for the graduates and guests but the entire local community, because we had an opportunity to support many local small businesses,” Gina Tramelli, Executive Director of Special Events, reflected on the last-minute changes to commencement. More>>