朱莉·凯尔期待着在亚利桑那州立大学获得硕士学位。她计划邀请住在印度的家人到美国参加她的毕业典礼。
But then, in March, the coronavirus pandemic ended those plans as schools nationwide closed to stop the spread. Kale's dream of spending time with family members on her big day came crashing down. Yet the graduation ceremony is taking place -- just not as she expected.
但是随后在3月份，随着全国学校关闭以阻止新冠病毒大流行的蔓延，这些计划泡汤了。凯尔与家人一起度过这个意义重大的日子的梦想破灭了。然而毕业典礼正在进行，虽然不是她所期望的那样。
University officials have turned to robots so Arizona State graduates and their families can take part in the event online.
大学官员已经转向了机器人寻求帮助，这样亚利桑那州立大学的毕业生及其家人就能在线参与这项活动。
Cameras recorded images of Kale and about 140 other graduates online this month. They were wearing robes and mortar board caps. They took turns moving a robot at the university that held an eye-level display showing their face. With the help of the robot, they stepped forward to receive their diplomas and take pictures.
本月，相机在线拍下了凯尔以及其他约140名毕业生的照片。他们穿着学位袍，戴着学位帽。他们轮流移动了学校的一个机器人，该机器人举着一个视线水平高度的显示器，里面显示了他们的脸。在机器人的帮助下，他们上前领取了文凭并拍照。
The robots are from Double Robotics, a company based in Burlingame, California. Before the health crisis, they had been used to help people attend funerals and even marriage ceremonies without traveling.
这些机器人来自于加州伯灵厄姆的Double Robotics公司。在这次健康危机前，它们曾被用于帮助人们参加葬礼、甚至是婚礼而无需本人亲自到场。
Sanjeev Khagram is dean of Arizona State's Thunderbird School of Global Management. He told the Reuters news agency the video – a "bittersweet" experience – was recorded and produced over two days. It may not have been ideal for the students, Khagram admitted. But, "we want to show that we did everything that we could to celebrate them."
桑杰弗·卡格拉姆是亚利桑那州立大学雷鸟全球管理学院的院长。他对路透社表示，这段苦乐参半体验的视频花了两天时间拍摄和制作。卡格拉姆承认，这对学生们来说可能不是最理想的选择。但是，“我们想要表明我们在竭尽所能庆祝他们的毕业。”
Kale planned to throw a ‘watch party' with her husband at home and her family in India.
凯尔计划与她家中的老公以及印度的家人举行一次观赏派对。
Getting used to the online experience was easy for Nancy Sierras Morales.
南希·西耶那·莫拉莱斯很容易就习惯了这种在线体验。
"We have been able to adapt very quickly because we are used to being on a computer and on the phone almost like 24/7," the 22-year-old said. She said that, while it is not the best, it is "cool...to be like the first class ever to do this."
这位22岁的女孩表示：“我们之所以能快速适应，是因为我们几乎一天24小时都在使用电脑和电话。”她表示，虽然这不是最好的，但是作为有史以来第一批这样做的毕业生也挺酷。”
When the crisis is over, the class of 2020 can do a real-life walk at any future graduation ceremony they choose.
当这场危机结束后，2020年这届毕业生可以选择在将来任何一场毕业典礼上真实地走一圈。
"I'm disappointed...," said 41-year-old Douglas Northcott. He is graduating with a master's degree in applied leadership and management. He called the online event with robots "creative." But he looked forward to the real thing.
41岁的道格拉斯·诺斯科特表示：“我很失望。”他即将获得应用领导力和管理硕士学位。他称这场有机器人参与的在线活动很有创意。但是他期望举行真实的毕业典礼。
"And if anything, that makes it better, in that [it] is spread over two times rather than one."
“如果有的话就更好了，那样就是两场毕业典礼，而不是一场。”
I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
我是小马里奥·里特。(51VOA.COM原创翻译，禁止转载，违者必究！)