Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

For the first time in West Virginia Wesleyan College’s history, Commencement will be on a Saturday as the Class of 2012 celebrates its years of hard work and achievements on May 5. Wesleyan will graduate 300 students during  the 122^nd Commencement.

Wesleyan Archivist Brett Miller said this is not the first year that Wesleyan has deviated from its traditional Sunday Commencement.

“In fact, prior to 1962, it appears that Commencement never took place on a Sunday,” said Miller. “But as far as we can tell, Wesleyan has never held Commencement on a Saturday.”

Beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning in the Rockefeller Physical Education Building, graduating seniors and master’s students will commemorate their Wesleyan experience and receive their degrees. The Honorable Lloyd Jackson will speak to students at Commencement. Following the ceremony, there will be a buffet in the dining center beginning at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are required for both Commencement and the buffet.

Before Saturday’s affairs, Wesleyan will host several events to honor the 2012 graduates and also celebrate its alumni.

“Commencement weekend is a special time,” said Kristi Wilkerson, director of Alumni Relations and commencement coordinator. “We are excited to welcome family and friends to campus to celebrate all that this great class of students has accomplished.”

The Commencement week festivities will begin on Wednesday, May 2, with a reunion and reception for the Class of 1962, which will celebrate its 50^th anniversary. Gradfest, a picnic dinner and party for graduates of both the master’s and bachelor’s programs, will be hosted at Riverbend Golf Course on Wednesday evening. Tickets are required for Gradfest and the event is for graduating students only.

The events continue on Thursday, May 3, when members of the Class of 1962 will be inducted into the Emeritus Club during a luncheon at the French A. See Dining Center. The Master’s Programs Dinner, for graduates of the master’s program and their guests, will also be Thursday at Riverbend Golf Course. The dinner will begin at 6 p.m. and tickets are required.

On Friday, May 4, Wesleyan President Dr. Pamela Balch ’71 will host a brunch for graduates and their families from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library.

Also on Friday, everyone is welcome to visit the Senior Art Exhibit and reception, which will be open from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the Sleeth Gallery.  Other schools, such as the School of Education and School of Nursing, will host their own receptions that day. The Commencement Banquet will take place on Friday evening in the French A. See Dining Center. Tickets are required for this event. Doors open at 5 p.m., and dinner will be served at 5:30.

Reverend Doug Patterson will speak at the Baccalaureate ceremony, which will begin at 8 p.m. in Wesley Chapel. The service will be followed by an ice cream social on the Chapel Green.

Both the Baccalaureate and the Commencement ceremonies will be webcast for those unable to attend. For more information or a complete schedule of events, visit http://www.wvwc.edu/commencement.