"Athabasca University's (AU) annual convocation/commencement event is the institution's single largest event of the year. As Canada's Open University, the goal for this event was to provide graduates with a convocation ceremony as close to an in-person experience as possible, including a live "cross the stage" moment. To do this, we built and customized a virtual platform with areas for grads and their loved ones to gather on the event day. Leading up to convocation, we mailed a Grad Box with celebration essentials (like a banner, lawn signs, hood, and a cap/tassel) to get grads in the spirit. On the day of, we provided entertainment to make the day engaging and celebratory.
It required 69 Microsoft Teams meeting “green rooms,” 30 AU team members, and 10 technicians to pull off our most unique element of having 891 grads cross a virtual stage during two live-streamed ceremonies. During the presentation of degrees, each grad was featured on-screen while our presenters read their names, degrees, and a message of thanks that they wrote themselves. Months of planning and countless hours of hard work made this memorable day a reality and rivaled the experience of an in-person convocation."
From the Judges
Congratulations on receiving the gold recipient award! Your hard work and dedication have paid off, culminating in a remarkable accomplishment. Athabasca University's convocation/commencement event was the perfect celebration of your academic achievements, and your participation in the virtual "cross the stage" moment made the day even more memorable. Your Grad Box and the entertainment provided on the day were thoughtful touches that helped create a festive atmosphere, and the effort of the AU team and technicians to make it all possible did not go unnoticed. Well done!
