When Elizabeth Oliver, a marine science and Spanish double major, walked across the stage at her high school graduation in 2021, the moment didn’t feel like a celebration.
Katie Milano and friends watching Professor Brooks’ band at O’Maddy’s in Gulfport
“It was more of the stress of all the COVID regulations,” she said. “But now, [college graduation] is exciting—like starting over. It feels more stable, like a new beginning I actually get to enjoy.”
For students like Oliver, Katie Milano and Jordan, graduating from Eckerd College in 2025 isn’t just the end of four years. It’s the first moment of true closure after years of pandemic upheaval…