With
a
former
astronaut
urging
them
to
stay
grounded
as
they
reach
for
the
stars,
Baldwin
Wallace
University
recognized
the
achievement
of
672
graduate
and
undergraduate
students
during
BW's
168th
Commencement
ceremony
on
Saturday,
May
5
in
Ursprung
Gymnasium
in
the
Lou
Higgins
Center.
Before
they
each
took
a
jubilant
walk
across
center
stage
to
receive
congratulations
from
President
Bob
Helmer
and
cheers
from
family
and
friends,
members
of
the
Class
of
2018
were
inspired
by
commencement
speaker
Dr.
Janet
L.
Kavandi,
director
of
the
NASA
Glenn
Research
Center
in
Cleveland.
Noting
that
"life
is
full
of
mysteries
and
complexities,"
Kavandi
recounted
ten
lessons
she
gleaned
during
more
than
33
days
in
space
and
535
orbits
around
our
planet
Earth,
urging
graduates
to
"establish
your
goals
and
never
give
up."
BW
awarded
the
Honorary
Doctor
of
Public
Service
degree
to
Kavandi,
whose
distinguished
career
at
NASA
includes
three
space
shuttle
flights.
Academic
firsts
and
honors
The
ceremony
also
included
special
recognition
for
high-achieving
members
of
the
Class
of
2018.
Spencer
E.
Badia,
a
pre-physical
therapy
major
with
a
perfect
4.0
GPA,
received
the
prestigious
Milton
T.
Baldwin
Prize,
given
to
the
graduate
with
the
highest
academic
achievement
at
BW.
An
impressive
number
of
undergraduate
students
graduated
with
academic
honors:
48
earned
summa
cum
laude
recognition
with
a
cumulative
grade
point
average
of
3.90
or
higher;
74
graduated
magna
cum
laude
with
at
least
a
3.75;
while
another
71
earned
cum
laude
honors
with
at
least
a
3.60.
Students
in
the
Dayton
C.
Miller
Honor
Society
and
the
Honors
Program
were
also
applauded
and
the
May
2018
ceremony
also
marked
conferral
of
BW's
first
six
Bachelor
of
Fine
Arts
(BFA)
degrees
to
graduates
of
the
only
BFA
in
acting
in
Northeast
Ohio
and
only
BFA
in
classical
acting
in
the
Midwest.
Super
Seniors
Ten
graduates
were
recognized
as
2018
Outstanding
Seniors
for
overall
excellence
and
contributions
to
campus
life
including
academics,
leadership,
service
and
involvement
on
and
off
campus.
The
2018
graduating
seniors
acknowledged
for
demonstrating
excellence
in
all
areas
of
their
University
endeavors
are:
William
Anastasiadis,
Andrew
Bianco,
Michael
Brown,
Dylan
Cook,
Kirsten
Goddard,
Kevin
Kaufhold,
Madison
McNeil,
Olivia
Murphy,
Manolo
Sandoval
and
Katherine
Simonis.
Pomp,
Circumstance
and
Tradition
Steeped
in
tradition,
BW
Commencement
Day
also
included
a
Baccalaureate
service
at
the
Kulas
Musical
Arts
Building
that
featured
an
inspiring
address
by
Dr.
Christy
Walkuski,
director
of
the
David
&
Frances
Brain
Center
for
Community
Engagement,
along
with
special
music.
Baccalaureate
was
followed
by
a
President's
Reception
in
the
Strosacker
Hall
union
ballroom-
giving
graduating
seniors
and
their
families,
faculty
and
staff
a
chance
to
mingle,
snap
photos
and
enjoy
a
spread
of
heavy
appetizers.
Another
longstanding
custom,
The
White
Rose
Ceremony,
recognized
select
young
women
and
honored
Philura
Gould
Baldwin,
granddaughter
of
BW
founder,
John
Baldwin.
She
helped
establish
the
BW
library
and
the
University's
brown
and
gold
colors.
During
"the
main
event,"
the
Senior
Class
added
distinctively
colored
ribbons
to
the
"ring
of
ribbons"
in
a
ritual
that
ties
BW
grads
together
from
generation
to
generation
and
includes
the
colors
of
every
graduating
class
since
1915.
At
their
upcoming
50-year
golden
reunion
during
"Alumni
Encore,"
members
of
the
Class
of
1968
will
renew
their
colors
on
the
Ring
of
Ribbons.
Boxcast
Replay
and
photos
The
Class
of
2018
graduates
now
take
their
places
among
48,000-plus
BW
graduates
or
"Yellow
Jackets
for
Life"
(YJ4L)
who
have
come
before
them
since
the
school's
founding
in
1845.
Watch
a
Boxcast
replay
of
the
big
ceremony
at
the
link
below.
To
view
and
download
photos
after
the
ceremony,
visit
BW
on
flickr
and/or
the
BW
Facebook
page
for
a
gallery
that
will
grow
in
the
week
following
commencement.
WATCH
BOXCAST
VIDEO
>>
SEE
PHOTOS
ON
FLICKR>>
SEE
PHOTOS
ON
FACEBOOK>>
