Colleges and high schools across the country are asking the same question, what will graduation look like? One class of 2020 senior from SUNY Cortland says like the rest of her class, she found out her graduation would be cancelled, via email.

“They were kind of stringing us along for a little while, like oh it might happen it might not. So we’re completely cancelling it and it's going to be rescheduled for spring 2021," said Allison Yero.

Allison Yero earned her degree in Political Science this week, but she isn't satisfied that she will have to wait another year to formally celebrate her accomplishment.

“My friends were upset, my family was upset, I was upset. So I was like okay I’m just going to make a petition. Somebody has to do something, somebody has to say something about it," said Yero.

Her petition quickly gained support, with more than 2,100 signatures. SUNY Cortland says it’s not possible to safely hold an in person ceremony before the end of the calendar year.

“What we didn’t want to do was disappoint out graduating students a second time. We were afraid if we scheduled something for September or October and after that it gets difficult when you get close to the holidays that we would have to cancel," said SUNY Cortland Director of Communications Fred Pierce.

An important clarification, the 2020 ceremony next spring, would be separate from the class of 2021’s special day. But Yero says 2021, will be too late.

“Most of us are going to be employed, and most of us are going to be relocated,” said Yero. “We’re going to be out of state, we’re not going to be around for the graduation ceremony. So we wanted it to be closer. We want to see if it's possible to move it up. But if it’s not, then it's not, but we just want you to consider moving it up.”

In the meantime, the college has virtual celebrations planned for May 26-29. A survey will be sent out to graduates to gauge interest in how many ceremonies will be needed due to the size of the graduating class.