After years of final exams, all-night study sessions and countless hours in the library, the time comes for students to graduate into a world of opportunity and exploration. This special transition is celebrated annually during Commencement Day, which will be held this year on Sunday, May 5.
Besides family, friends and alumni, leaders from such fields as government, business and education are also present to inspire the graduates. Last year, for example, students heard from U.S. Rep. Alma S. Adams of North Carolina, whose rousing speech outlined her journey to become a congressional leader.
Previously, undergraduates wore blue gowns while those earning their master’s degrees wore black. This year, undergraduates and graduate students will start a new tradition by wearing custom regalia representative of Lincoln colors: dark blue with an orange stripe on the sleeve.
The hoods of Lincoln graduates are orange and blue representing the school colors. The edging of the hood is velvet and varies in color based on the degree: white for bachelor of arts, gold for bachelor of science and master of science degrees, light blue for master of education and citron for master of arts.
As the graduating students process from the Student Union Building to the Living Learning Center Lawn, they will be joined by alumni from the class of 1969, who—as a nod to their 50th reunion—will be wearing gold robes.
Lincoln’s history, traditions and legacy are on full display during the commencement ceremony. The University marshal leads dignitaries to the ceremony while carrying a ceremonial mace. Featuring the University seal, the mace represents the University’s obligation to preserve its legacy while imparting its students with the power of education. The University medallion worn by President Brenda A. Allen also bears the University seal. In addition, it is inscribed with the names of each University president.
Commencement is not only a time to celebrate graduating students, it is also a time to celebrate the University’s growth and prestigious alumni. Each year during Reunion Weekend, alumni gather to reconnect with old friends, network and celebrate the accomplishments of their fellow classmates. Alumni don their finest clothes to attend dinners and socials, showcase their businesses, tour campus and create new memories with their friends and family. For the second year in a row, Lincoln returns to the legacy of Reunion Weekend occurring the same weekend as Commencement.
Lincoln continues to be a top choice for students looking to make a difference in their communities and the world by following in the footsteps of such graduates as Renosi Mokate ’81, former executive director of the World Bank Group; Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila ’94, the first female prime minister of Namibia; Sheila Oliver '74, the first African American woman elected lieutenant governor of New Jersey; and Roderick L. Ireland ’66, the former chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
In 1868, 10 years after Lincoln opened, only six students graduated. A decade later, that number more than doubled and has continued to increase as Lincoln’s reputation as a renowned liberal arts institution has spread throughout the country and abroad. In 2000, over 500 students graduated from the University, making it one of the largest graduating classes in the University’s history. Since its founding, over 20,000 students have graduated from the University.
By Devin Bonner, MPA
