BW Celebrates 307 Graduates at Fall 2018 Commencement
Baldwin
Wallace
University
celebrated
the
achievements
of
307
undergraduate
and
graduate
students
on
a
chilly
Fall
2018
Commencement
Day,
Saturday,
December
8.
The University marked the momentous milestone of college graduation with a series of events culminating with a 2 p.m. ceremony in Ursprung Gymansium.
Each graduate was called by name to walk the stage, receive a diploma case and shake the hand of President Bob Helmer as friends and family beamed with pride, snapped photos and cheered.
"Don't settle for easy"
Graduates,
and
the
assembled
family,
friends,
faculty
and
staff
also
heard
inspiring
words
from
commencement
speaker
Matt
Underwood
'90,
who
just
completed
his
19th
season
as
a
broadcaster
for
the
Cleveland
Indians
and
told
the
graduates
not
to
"settle
for
easy."
The BW business administration major, who discovered his talents and career interest working at the university radio station WBWC, 88.3 FM, as both a disc jockey and a sportscaster, said he was uncertain whether to pursue a career in business or broadcasting following his graduation.
"I had more questions than answers," Underwood confessed. He took a chance on a part-time broadcasting job and had no regrets. "Whatever choice you make, I say to you, 'Go!'-- with all your might and all your determination and don't ever look back."
After his address, BW conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree on the Emmy Award-winning broadcaster.
Top scholars and grad traditions
The
ceremony
included
special
recognition
for
high-achieving
undergraduates
who
earned
their
degrees
with
honors:
16
earned
summa
cum
laude
recognition
with
a
cumulative
grade
point
average
of
3.90
or
higher;
17
graduated
magna
cum
laude
with
at
least
a
3.75
GPA,
while
another
12
earned
cum
laude
honors
with
at
least
a
3.60
GPA.
Students
in
the
elite
Dayton
C.
Miller
Honor
Society
(the
top
4%
of
all
BW
graduates)
and
the
Honors
Program
were
also
applauded.
The senior class president added distinctively colored, teal and coral ribbons to the "ring of ribbons," as part of a longstanding custom that ties BW grads together from generation to generation and includes the colors of every graduating class since 1915.
Before the "main event," commencement day began with the traditional Baccalaureate service in the Lindsay-Crossman Chapel with music and readings by students and faculty, and remarks by Dr. James W. McCargar, professor of physical chemistry and the associate dean of the School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing.
Baccalaureate was followed by the President's Reception in the Strosacker Hall union ballroom, where all graduating seniors and their families, faculty and staff were invited to mix and mingle, snap photos and enjoy a mouthwatering array of heavy appetizers and desserts.
Watch it again on the Boxcast Replay
WATCH the VIDEO >> of the 2018 Fall Commencement.