Commencement Ceremony to Be Livestreamed via WC’s Website
Wilmington College will confer 254 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees at its 141st Commencement May 13.
(PICTURED) The student speakers for Commencement, Baccalaureate and Senior Lunch met recently with President Jim Reynolds. They include, from the left, Chavon Hines, Megan Canfield, Callie Eberhard,Elyse Spraul, Ja'Cole Tabor and Alec Rivers.
While that ceremony marks the culmination of both the academic year and these students’ undergraduate careers, it is one of several events in which the graduating seniors will join together a final time to reflect upon, appreciate and celebrate their time at Wilmington College.
With final exams concluding Tuesday evening, the Class of 2017 will hold a “Zero Year Reunion” Thursday evening at Generations Pizzeria sponsored by WC Alumni Council and First Decade Society, the latter of which places a special emphasis upon alumni from the past 10 years.
On Friday, the soon-to-be-graduates will attend the annual Baccalaureate ceremony, an event designed for them to reflect upon their experience at the College. Highlights include musical numbers by the College Chorale and a faculty/staff ensemble, a senior video presentation and student remarks from Callie Eberhart, a member of the Class of ’17. Also, campus minister Nancy McCormick will present a welcome and senior Tallia R. McCormick of the Quaker Leader Scholar Program will offer an invocation and scripture reading.
Following Baccalaureate, the students will have one final meal together — in this case, a feast — at the Senior Lunch. The program includes awards presentations for student leadership, along with the Teaching Excellence Award and Van Black Award, the latter of which is designated for a staff member, not in the Student Life division, who has been especially supportive of students.
Student government president Travis Scheadler will preside at the lunch, at which seniors Alec Rivers and Ja’Cole Tabor will offer comments about their time at WC while Chip Murdock, director of multicultural affairs, was selected to address the pending graduates. Also, 2002 alumnus Dr. Laura Dengler Sorg will share her memories of WC. She is a family physician with Marysville/Central Ohio Primary Care.
WC’s Cincinnati Branch students will join their main campus counterparts for Commencement rehearsal Friday afternoon, which will culminate with a class photo.
On Saturday, President Jim Reynolds will preside over the Commencement ceremony and present the address. Class member Elyse M. Spraul will introduce the president after an invocation by campus minister Nancy McCormick and welcome from senior Chavon W. Hines. Presenting student remarks will be Megan L. Canfield and Katy M. Dimmerling, representing the main campus and Cincinnati Branch, respectively.
Erika Goodwin, vice president for academic affairs, will announce academic honors and awards before special music presented by graduating class member Theresa Knopf and College Chorale director Gina Beck.
Handling the conferring of degrees will be Reynolds and Goodwin, along with registrar Sue Hutchens and Robert Touchton, chair, Board of Trustees. 1973 graduate Don Muchmore will confer the graduates’ membership in the alumni community.
Following closing remarks from Goodwin, the audience will be requested to join the graduates in singing the Alma Mater, after which Nancy McCormick will offer the benediction.
The Class of 2017 will process from the ceremony onto Elm Street, where they will traverse through a wall of faculty, staff and trustees congratulating them as they proceed en route to meet their families and friends on Collett Mall and at the subsequent ice cream reception in Pyle Center.
