December graduates increasing

On Monday, December 17, 112 students are expected to receive their bachelor’s degrees at commencement.

December commencement is a compilation of the August graduates who completed courses during the summer and the December graduates.

By Daniella Choynowski,

Staff Writer

On Monday, December 17, 112 students are expected to receive their bachelor’s degrees at commencement.

December commencement is a compilation of the August graduates who completed courses during the summer and the December graduates.

“Typically, the December commencement is mostly adults,” said Kathy Fajt, director of student services.

Lately it has become filled with students who stayed longer to take extra classes or to pursue multiple degrees.

“The August graduates have a decision, if they want to participate in the December commencement…I hold their diploma until then,” said Connie Beckel, who handles the graduates in the registrar. Graduates have the option of walking in December, but if not, they receive their diplomas after August 31. Students who have completed their degrees by December also have the option of waiting until the May commencement.

For December commencement, instead of having an outside individual come in to speak, the speaker will be a faculty member chosen by faculty and students. At the present time, the selection process is still underway.

The process of choosing the speaker for commencement begins with the students. An email is sent out to all of the graduating seniors, faculty, and professional staff, asking for recommendations. Then, the nominations are sent to the Academic Affairs Office.

“At that point,” said Pamela Merlino of the Academic Affairs Office, “Dr. Gawelek takes all the recommendations and then takes them to council, where the speaker is elected.”

This is the first year that the December commencement will be held in the McKenna Center, the graduating class having grown too large for Cecilian Hall, which is where the service was usually located. One other unique thing about December graduation is that the service does not require tickets, students not being limited to how many guests they can bring.

Since the December graduating class is always much smaller than the May class, there is no baccalaureate service held the night before. The baccalaureate service tradition is sort of a farewell to graduating student in the form of a sermon or mass, usually held the Sunday before.

“We have, instead, what is called a Vesper service,” said Fajt. Vespers, which is a smaller religious service, is immediately followed by the welcome, speaker, and the presentation of degrees.