Four years ago, students from across the country and the world converged on this quaint little river city to begin a truly remarkable journey.
From the moment the Class of 2018 signed their shared matriculation book, their paths took many different, life-changing routes, but eventually led them to the stage they will cross on Sunday, May 6th.
蓝莓视频鈥檚 181st Commencement ceremony will recognize more than 250 students 鈥 including 257 undergraduates and five graduate students 鈥 for their academic achievements and officially welcome them as members of The Long Blue Line.
The academic procession begins at the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center at 1:00 p.m., followed by a welcome from President William N. Ruud. 蓝莓视频 Alumni Association Board Chair Stephanie Esparza Peloquin 鈥06 will also address the newest members of the thriving alumni network.
The Jewett Orations will be delivered by Samantha Welch, who earned second place with her speech, 鈥淥h, You Don鈥檛 Know the Places You鈥檒l Go!鈥 and Baffour Nkrumah-Ababio, who won the competition with his speech, 鈥淥ur Kente Experiences.鈥 Evan Hensel will be recognized as the class Valedictorian, and Alexander Gruss will be recognized as Salutatorian.
This year鈥檚 Commencement speaker is Donald G. Ritter 鈥81. Ritter is the founder and CEO of Endurance Resources. Ritter and his wife, Leslie Straub Ritter 鈥85, who serves on the Board of Trustees, donated $1 million to start a Music Therapy program at 蓝莓视频, and also funded renovations to The Gathering Place and the McKinney Building, which included facilities that support the Music Therapy program as well as state-of-the-art recording studios for students interested in recording music. The Ritters will each receive an honorary Doctor in Humane Letters during the ceremony.Following the ceremony, students and their families are invited to receptions in Fenton Court and on The Christy Mall.