This evening or tomorrow morning physical plant workers will begin to arrange the seats for those participating in the 2013 fall commencement.
“Every ceremony has to be as fresh and crisp as the first one. The graduation ceremony is icing on the cake,” Vice President for Government and University Relations Cynthia Brinker said.
The workers will set up around 200 seats for graduation. Each seat will have a program on it for them to see exactly when they get to turn their tassels.
Brinker said the opportunity to see students on this special day makes all the effort worth it.
“The smiles and the sense of accomplishments you see… it’s wonderful,” she said.
More than 550 USI students are graduate candidates, with 365 students signed up to walk on Saturday for the 2013 fall commencement.
“That’s 62.2 percent of students attending the ceremony. That’s a good showing for the fall commencement,” Brinker said.
Senior psychology major Alex Kessler said he’s had a million emotions or more right now.
“I’m sad, happy, nervous, anxious … I’m just a rollercoaster right now,” he said.
He said USI offered classes the wanted to take.
“I got to get my feet wet before I even start my career,” Kessler said. “I can take the class, it determines if I like it before I go on to my master’s.”
The faculty help make USI, he said.
“Having faculty members that can talk to (me) and give me excellent advice is amazing,” Kessler said.
The graduating class consists of 10 summa cum laude graduates, 33 magna cum laude graduates, and 38 cum laude graduates as well as five University Honors Scholars.
Two Fall Commencement ceremonies will be held in the Physical Activities Center (PAC) for different colleges.
The first ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. for those graduating from the Romain College of Business and Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. Doors will open at 9 a.m. for friends and family of the graduates.
The second ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. for the students in the College of Liberal Arts, College of Nursing and Health Professions, and Division of Outreach and Engagement. Doors open at noon for those who wish to attend.
A reception will be held on the first floor of the University Center East, beginning immediately after each ceremony.
A live stream of the ceremony will be available to view on the USI website for those unable to attend.
“If the family can’t come, then they can still see their student graduate,” Brinker said.
Robert E. Boostrom, recipient of the 2013 Distinguished Professor Award and education professor, will take on the role of commencement speakers at both ceremonies.
This will be the first time in the university’s history that all the grand marshals are female – Jennifer Williams for the 10 a.m. ceremony and Katie Waters for the 1 p.m.
The grand marshals are the faculty members with the most seniority of the colleges that attend that specific ceremony and carry the ceremonial mace.
This will be Williams’s first time being the grand marshal.
“Graduation is one of my favorite events of the year,” she said. “The students are all excited. I love being excited.”
Williams said it’s an honor to be a grand marshal.
“I just love graduation. I get to hug the students and meet their parents,” she said.
Waters carried the ceremonial mace for a few years – the first woman at USI to be a grand marshal.
“It’s kind of momentous,” she said. “When I was in school, I never had a female art professor – all of my professors were male.”
Cindy Brinker does make one recommendation for those who attend the ceremonies.
“Watch for the shoes. I love the shoes – some people wear such tall heels and make you wonder if they might fall and some even wear flip-flops. It’s funny seeing all the differences in footwear with the black gowns being the same.”