The 26-year-old hails from New Jersey and was supposed to graduate with her master of science degree in sport, exercise and health in a University of Otago ceremony, but due to Level 3 restrictions it was unable to go ahead as planned.
Instead, her eight flatmates surprised her with a creative ceremony.
A graduation cap made of a colander and a rubbish bag, pseudo bagpipes, a proxy mother, a certificate made on a computer, songs and a parade around the campus were all part of the ceremony.
Miss Calverley called the improvised graduation a "complete surprise".
"It was my flatmate’s birthday on Saturday, so I thought we would spend the day celebrating that.
"It was super-special; I was kidnapped and paraded around campus."
Her parents had planned to travel from the United States for the graduation, but were unable to due to Covid-19.
‘‘I wasn’t too upset. It wasn’t my first graduation and won’t be my last, but it was amazing to have this."
Miss Calverley was hoping to begin her PhD study in the coming months