NC State, UNC graduations bring weekend traffic, despite gas shortages

Despite the shortage of gas, lots of people are traveling to the Triangle this weekend for graduation ceremonies.

Posted 8:54 a.m. May 14, 2021 — Updated 3:39 p.m. May 14, 2021

Nia Harden

, WRAL reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — Despite the shortage of gas, lots of people are traveling to the Triangle this weekend for graduation ceremonies.

The commencement ceremonies will be bringing extra traffic Friday and throughout the weekend.

Visit Raleigh expects the biggest weekend in terms of tourism since the pandemic – but could the gas shortage affect the dollars coming in?

Visit Raleigh had heard of any major cancellations at any events or hotels by Friday morning, and a representative said many guests have already arrived to the area.

The Aloft Hotel near North Carolina State University campus said the gas shortage should also not impact their weekend business, as guests have been calling to confirm they are still coming despite the gas situation.

Their advice to drivers: Get up early to get gas, but don’t panic.

Graduates at both NC state and UNC will get to hear from some very high profile commencement speakers.

NC State grads will hear from fellow alum and NFL quarterback Russell Wilson, while, Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett and Dr. Anthony Fauci are teaming up to deliver the address for graduates at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

NC State has ceremonies at 7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday in Carter-Finley Stadium. During Friday’s ceremony, Chancellor Randy Woodson will confer an honorary degree on alumnus Jeff Williams, chief operating officer at Apple. Woodson will confer an honorary degree on alumna Ashley Christensen, James Beard Award-winning chef, during Saturday’s ceremony.

The university will confer 4,566 bachelor’s degrees along with 90 associate’s, 1,752 master’s, 199 doctoral and 96 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees. Some students are graduating with more than one degree.

UNC plans five in-person ceremonies for a total of 4,068 undergraduates over three days in Kenan Stadium. Graduates will be grouped by school at events on Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and afternoon and Sunday morning and afternoon.

Nine people will receive honorary degrees from UNC, including four chosen in 2021 and five from 2020, when Spring Commencement was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commencement speakers Anthony S. Fauci and Kizzmekia S. Corbett will receive honorary Doctor of Science degrees. Six others will receive honorary Doctor of Laws degrees, and one will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Suggest A Correction