Thomas Jefferson University recently issued an apology after several graduates from the nursing program had their names mispronounced during the commencement ceremony. The mispronunciations were attributed to the phonetic spellings written on the speaker’s cards. Examples of the botched pronunciations included Sarah Virginia Brennan being called “Sayer Oo-voon Geen-goo Bree-none” and Maeve Elizabeth being pronounced as “May-vee Lee Zu-beth.” The university expressed regret for the errors, stating that each graduate deserves to have their name correctly honored on such an important day.
The videos of the mispronunciations went viral, with one video showing graduates with last names starting with “B” or “C” garnering over 370,000 views. Another video taken from the crowd at the ceremony received more than 2.4 million views, along with numerous likes and comments. Many viewers expressed shock and amusement at the mispronunciations, with some comparing the situation to a comedy sketch. The ceremony appeared to proceed in alphabetical order, with a speaker apologizing once the last names reached “L” for the mistakes in pronunciation.
After the errors were brought to light, the university issued a statement reiterating the cause of the mispronunciations. They emphasized that the mistakes were a result of the phonetic spellings presented on the cards used by the speaker. The university acknowledged the significance of the graduates’ achievements and expressed regret for the oversight. The statement concluded by reaffirming the respect and value they have for their graduates and their hard-earned accomplishments.
Despite the mispronunciations, the commencement ceremony marked a celebratory occasion for the graduating nursing students. The university has three more commencement ceremonies scheduled for May 21 and 22, where additional graduates will have the opportunity to be recognized for their academic achievements. The incident served as a reminder of the importance of accurately honoring and recognizing each individual’s accomplishments, particularly on such a significant day in their educational journey.
