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.