This past Saturday may have been the first commencement under the banner of Northern Vermont University-Johnson, but students have been graduating from Johnson for more than 150 years, showing their true colors in cap and gown, time after time. And, although their previous four years might have been academically rigorous, come graduation, everyone really just wants to have fun.

Grammy Award-winning artist Cyndi Lauper was the keynote speaker, returning to campus more than 40 years after attending Johnson State College. She didn’t earn a degree back in the 1970s — she was an art student in 1973 and 1974 — but she was conferred Saturday with an honorary doctorate for her artistic accomplishments and for her dedication to raising awareness and funds for the LGBTQ community.

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