Wilmington College will renew the time-honored tradition of Commencement on May 9, as the institution conducts its 150th graduation ceremony. Much has changed over the last century and a half, but Commencement’s core purpose remains: to celebrate student achievement and their DubC experience with the conferring of degrees.
The College held its first Commencement in the spring of 1875, when four graduates received diplomas for bachelor’s degrees. It started a tradition for each graduate to give an address. Titles of speeches by members of the Class of 1875 included “Full-Sized,” “Design,” “The Rock Is Before Us,” and, from Ellen C. Wright, “Why Should She Study?” — highlighting the importance of women pursuing higher education in the 19th century.
Wright went on to earn her master’s degree and teach Latin, Greek and English at WC for 46 years. Her classes in rhetoric and composition were especially popular, as were her inspiring chapel talks. Wright is credited with selecting the College’s Latin motto, Non Saltus sed Multis Gradibus (not by giant leaps, but by many small steps), a phrase she often stated in class.
The practice of all graduates speaking lasted through the 1903 Commencement, when James B. Unthank, the College’s fourth and longest serving president at 22 years, gave his farewell address. Presidents have continued to offer keynotes at Commencement. Witness Jim Reynolds, WC’s 18th president, who tailored his featured remarks to the year’s graduating class each year from 2013 through 2020. His swansong address in 2020 — the heart of the COVID pandemic — was part of a completely online ceremony, but the next year’s Commencement was among the most unusual in the College’s history. With the nation still reeling from the pandemic, social distancing policies brought about separate ceremonies for students earning Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. But that day in early May of 2021 also featured a third ceremony, as graduates from the Class of 2020 were invited back to participate in a live event since their Commencement was online.
While 2020 and ’21 were anomalies, more often than not, through the years, an outside guest has been invited to present the Commencement address. The first one was Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Carrington T. Marshall in 1927. Following his tenure on the bench, Marshall served as a judge in the Nuremberg Trials, an important postscript following World War II’s hostilities.
Other speakers were well-known at the time in American culture, like Norman Cousins, noted political journalist and author; Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress; and Howard Cosell, a prominent sports journalist and sportscaster in the late 20th century. In 1994, through a connection with then-Dean of Students Blake Thurman, actor/TV personality Whoopi Goldberg spoke to graduates.
Under Corey Cockerill’s current presidency, the College brought in accomplished alumni Tara Clark Durbin ‘01, Noris Cabrera Price ’81 and Megan Canfield ’17 in 2023, ’24 and ’25, respectively. This year, Gary Hirsch, author, educator and Botjoy creator, will provide the address.
Many of the Commencement ceremonies have been held outdoors on the campus greenspace. These days, May’s unpredictable weather would require both outdoor and indoor setups, so, since Hermann Court was built in 1966, the College has opted to graduate its students under roof. This year’s event in Hermann Court will be the last one before air conditioning is installed, thanks to legendary Coach Jerry Scheve’s record $23 million gift. But this spring will also be the first with new bleachers on the west side of the venue, also courtesy of Scheve’s vision.
Hearkening to the first Commencements at the College, graduates continue to present prominent speaking roles — only not from all grads — as students have been selected to speak on behalf of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as others who will offer a welcome and introduce the keynote and featured student speakers.
One hundred and forty-nine Commencements later, Wilmington College is ready to send its graduates out into the world prepared for lives of service and success.
TOP PHOTO: The College's inaugural graduating class in 1875 included, from the left, Ellen C. Wright, Aaron J. Hunt, Elma C. Doster and Hannah A. Lewis.