reunion and commencement

Graduates, their families, and other members of the Wesleyan community who gathered for the 184th Commencement ceremony on May 22 were offered advice on how to change the world by Bryan Stevenson, this year’s Commencement speaker, a human rights lawyer and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative. Weaving in stories from his decades of work fighting racial injustice and discrimination in the criminal justice system, Stevenson told the Class of 2016 that changing the world requires four things: Getting proximate to the places "where there's suffering and abuse and neglect"; "changing the narrative" about race in this country; staying hopeful; and…

Registration for Wesleyan’s Reunion & Commencement Weekend is open! (Register online here prior to May 6.) From May 19-22, alumni, parents, students and families can participate in reunion gatherings, a festival on Foss Hill, WesSeminars, THIS IS WHY campaign dedications and celebrations, stargazing, a conversation with President Michael Roth ’78, a parade of classes, an all-campus college sing and campus party, the 184th Commencement Ceremony and much more. View the entire schedule of events online here. Classes celebrating their reunions are those ending in a "1" or "6," and the weekend celebrates the graduating class of 2016. All alumni planning to attend…

Graduates, their families, and other members of the Wesleyan community who gathered for the 183rd Commencement ceremony on May 24 were treated to some life advice in the form of rap, courtesy of Lin-Manuel Miranda '02, this year's Commencement speaker and the composer, lyricist and star of the hip-hop musical Hamilton. "I’m going to sing a little bit, so if you made a bet that I’d be rapping during the Commencement address, your friend owes you money," Miranda joked. He drew upon the stories of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr to discuss two different approaches to life: charging forward in the…

Lin-Manuel Miranda '02 made the following remarks at the 183rd Commencement ceremony May 24: Thank you, President Roth, Provost, Board of Trustees, faculty, students, families. Wes Wings, Thai Gardens and Neon Deli. As I look across the sea of proud, sleepy graduates, who just hours ago were turnt all the way up in the tent where your families now sit—seriously, your grandmother is sitting where YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID—I can’t help but wish I had been asked to be your freshman orientation speaker instead. Over the course of your time here, you have learned innumerable lessons, large and small, but I…

Beverly Daniel Tatum '75, president of Spelman College, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree on May 24. She delivered the following remarks: Thank you, President Roth and the Board of Trustees, the faculty, for this wonderful honor. I can’t tell you how delighted I am to be here – especially on the occasion of the 40th reunion of the Class of 1975! The years I spent at Wesleyan were transformative for me, and when I left Wesleyan, I was a confident young woman with a clear career plan. I planned to go off to graduate school, earn…

Honorary Degree Recipient Michael Price made the following remarks during the 183rd Commencement Ceremony May 24: My children would say this is an awesome moment. For me, being on this platform amongst such a distinguished assemblage is somewhere between exhilaration and terror. I now know how an actor feels on opening night, excited, honored and hoping not to fall off the stage. President Roth and the Wesleyan Community, thank you for this very special honor. To the class of 2015, I am thrilled and grateful to share this day with you, and to be in the company of Beverly Daniel…

Wesleyan President Michael Roth made the following remarks during the 183rd Commencement Ceremony May 24: Members of the board of trustees, members of the faculty and staff, distinguished guests, new recipients of graduate degrees and the mighty class of 2015, I am honored to present some brief remarks on the occasion of this commencement. On this Memorial Day Weekend, I begin by asking us all to take a moment to remember the men and women who have died while serving in the American armed forces. In recent years, military conflicts far from our own shores have cost the lives of…

Marissa Castrigno '15 made the following remarks during the 183rd Commencement Ceremony May 24: I feel immensely lucky to be able to stand here and see so many people that I love all in one place – so many people that love each other all in one place. My favorite college memory was on this very balcony two years ago when I sat with my best friend on its wide ledge and we spoke candidly for the first time about those private things that motivate and shape each of us. In that moment, among others during my first year here,…

During the 183rd Commencement ceremony, President Michael Roth awarded the Binswanger Prize for Excellence in Teaching to three faculty, and the Raymond E. Baldwin Medal to an alumnus. Three outstanding teachers are recognized annually with the Binswanger Prize for Excellence in Teaching. This year, President Michael Roth honored Michael Calter, David Schorr and Gina Athena Ulysse for their excellence in teaching. The prizes are made possible by gifts from the family of the late Frank G. Binswanger Sr., Hon. ’85, and underscore Wesleyan’s commitment to its scholar-teachers, who are responsible for the university’s distinctive approach to liberal arts education. (more…)

Several members of the Class of 2015 decorated their graduation regallia for the 183rd Commencement Ceremony May 24. (Photos by Rick Ciaburri and John Van Vlack) (more…)

Graduating seniors picked up diplomas and gifts, presented by the Alumni Association in North College on May 22. (Photo by Laurie Kenney) (more…)

The Wesleyan community has established a tradition of celebrating Reunion and Commencement together, ensuring a large and convivial gathering of alumni, students, families, faculty, staff and friends of the university. Beginning with the arrival of alumni, family, and friends on May 21 and culminating with the 183rd Commencement ceremony at 11 a.m. May 24, Wesleyan will offer a wide array of educational and recreational programs, including many opportunities to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2015. This year’s schedule includes class reunions, WESeminars, academic department open houses, the 100th anniversary of the parade of classes, campus tours, an all-college picnic and festival,…

Wesleyan Awards 731 BA Degrees at 184th Commencement

Register for Reunion & Commencement Weekend May 19-22

Wesleyan Awards 799 BA Degrees at 183rd Commencement

Lin-Manuel Miranda ’02 Delivers Commencement Address

Remarks for Honorary Degree Recipient Beverly Daniel Tatum ’75

Remarks for Honorary Degree Recipient Michael Price

President Roth Makes Remarks to the Class of 2015

Greetings for the Senior Class from Marissa Castrigno ’15

Calter, Schorr, Ulysse Honored with Binswanger Prizes; Dachs ’70 Receives Baldwin Medal

Graduating Seniors Adorn Caps

Seniors Pick Up Diplomas

Gatherings, Celebrations During Reunion & Commencement Weekend May 21-24