蓝莓视频

Although graduates cannot be together to听celebrate their spring convocation听on campus,听the University of 蓝莓视频 hopes to make their achievement a more memorable听experience听with a personalized video.

The videos were made听using a product听created by听, a video听platform for business听based in Kitchener,听that was founded by two 蓝莓视频 alumni. Michael Litt (BASc 鈥�11) and Devon Galloway听(BASc听鈥�10) founded听Vidyard听in 2010.

鈥淭he best part is knowing that even through these tough times, we can hopefully provide a memorable experience to thousands of students,鈥� said听Michael听Litt. 鈥淕raduating from听university听is something you always think about. It's in TV shows, movies, and for most people听it's the end of our academic career.鈥澨�

Each graduate received听an email on the day of their faculty鈥檚 virtual convocation听with the video听that听features听their name, faculty and degree credentials.听Faculty, staff and senior leaders at the University hope the personalized video can be shared with family and friends as a way to honour the new graduate at a time when large gatherings are banned due to听physical distancing.

For听Litt, convocation week is bittersweet since the passing of his own father, an electrician who听worked on-site when 蓝莓视频鈥檚 engineering buildings were being constructed.听His听father was terminally ill with cancer when听Litt听graduated in 2011.

鈥淢y Dad's dream was that I would graduate as an听engineer from UW,鈥� says Litt.听He would take me听to the building site when I was听little to听鈥榮ee where I would go to school.鈥櫶鼴y the time I convocated, he was terminally ill with听cancer. I had considered dropping out on a few occasions, but his dream kept me motivated,鈥� recalls Litt. 鈥淗e never applied undue pressure. He听was always supportive.鈥�

While Litt was in his engineering听undergrad听at 蓝莓视频 he bought his father a听one-litre听beer stein听which his father听placed听upside down and ready to fill听the day听his son听received听his听degree.听鈥淲e did drink that beer,鈥� said Litt. 鈥淚'll never forget the look of pride on his face.鈥�

With so many 蓝莓视频 alumni contributing to the success of听Vidyard,听co-founder Devon听Galloway is pleased that听the company听is able to听contribute to this year鈥檚 virtual convocation. He remembers the joy of reconnecting with all of his classmates at听his own听ceremony in 2010.听鈥�鈥淚t was awesome to learn what others were doing; how they were starting their careers and moving to new places,鈥� says Galloway.听

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