259 Degrees to Be Conferred at Student-Centered Ceremony
Wilmington College will confer 259 degrees Saturday morning (May 7) at its 140th annual Commencement. The event will be livestreamed from the College’s Website [CLICK HERE].
(PICTURED) Wilmington College's first graduates comprising the entire Class of 1875 pose for a photo for the ages.
Weather permitting, the graduates will traverse Collett Mall as the student procession snakes its way to join with faculty, staff and trustees en route to entering Hermann Court for the ceremony.
The procession will arrive to the pomp of “Processional Prelude on Hyfrydol” performed by Rachel Kramer on keyboards. Following an invocation by former campus minister Daniel Kasztelan, graduating senior Joseph Njeru will offer a welcome.
Another soon-to-be graduate, Micaela G. Wright, will introduce President Jim Reynolds, who will present the Commencement address. His presentation will be followed with student remarks by Class of 2016 members Abigail J. Jude, who will represent the main campus, and Gwendolyn R. Lawhorn, representing the Cincinnati Branch programs.
Erika Goodwin, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty, will make the announcement of academic honors and awards, followed by special music featuring junior Theresa Knopf singing the Laura Story composition, “Blessings,” while accompanied by Kramer.
The conferring of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees will be handled by Reynolds, Goodwin, Robert E. Touchton, chair, Board of Trustees, and Karen Manor Garman, registrar/assistant dean for academic affairs.
Once all the graduates have their diplomas, Don Muchmore, president of the Alumni Council, will welcome the newest members of the Wilmington College alumni community. Goodwin will offer closing remarks, followed by the singing of the “Alma Mater” and benediction. The graduates will renew the tradition of processing out of Hermann Court through a “tunnel” of cheering faculty and staff before meeting with family and friends on the mall and at a candy recpetion in Pyle Student Center.
