Graduation for many schools is right around the corner, but some Lehman College students say they want to celebrate in-person. 

Bronx native Jacqueline Rios says she has spent most of the COVID-19 pandemic juggling school and her job as a health care worker at Montefiore Hospital. 

"It was really, really stressful. There were times where because of what I was dealing with at the hospital, I couldn't focus in school,” said Rios. 

Rios completed her bachelor’s degree in biology from Lehman College in December and says she hopes to go to medical school. 

She says she was disappointed to find out the ceremony would be all virtual. 

In a statement, Lehman College President Daniel Lemons said in part, “The guidance emphasizes that while in-person ceremonies are possible virtual ceremonies are encouraged."

President Lemons says that requiring a negative test or vaccination to attend would exclude students who have been unable to get a vaccine. 

Rios says she thinks Lehman should offer both an in-person and virtual graduation.

"I don't see why it can't be both. Just like everything right now, is basically you either have to be vaccinated or you have to have a negative COVID test. Anything that now is opening, they're using those guidelines and it's OK,” said Rios. 

Lehman College’s virtual ceremony will now be on May 27 at 10 a.m.