Around 600 Lambton College graduates took part in a drive-by convocation ceremony Wednesday.
Cars lined the campus streets around the Sarnia school for the afternoon celebration.
Before officially kicking off the parade, College President Judith Morris told the students that this graduating class is one she will never forget.
"Today is a celebration of everything you've learned in your time at Lambton College, everything you've learned in your classes and from your professors and staff, and boy they've done an amazing job this year, way beyond anything before," said Morris. "Yes, we're celebrating what you've learned from the pandemic, and by now most of the hardest lessons are the ones that you know matter the most."
Morris said these graduates made it to this point together.
"You tutored each other, you supported each other emotionally, you helped us make sure your peers had enough to eat for goodness sake, enough to eat! And then somehow you had enough bandwidth left to help our community."
Morris is set to retire June 30.
Incoming President Rob Kardas believes convocation day is the most important day on the college calendar.
"It's the point on the horizon that we set our sights on from day one. This is the day that we count down towards," said Kardas. "This is the day we elevate above all others because we know what it takes to reach it. We know what it takes in an average, normal year, and we know what it took all of you this past year."
Kardas said it's not overstating it to say that every day or most days this past year were a battle.
"Some days were a small battle, other days were bigger, and I know there were some days that the battle seemed unwinnable, but here you are."
The roughly four-hour long event was live-streamed on the college's YouTube page.
This is the second year Lambton College has opted for drive-by graduation celebration, rather than the traditional in-person convocation.
About 2,000 students graduated this year.
-With files from Stephanie Chaves
