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| ====== Commencement ====== | ====== Commencement ====== |
| | [{{ ::commencement_2024.jpg?400|The Trinity Pipes perform the alma mater, “’Neath the Elms” at the Bicentennial Commencement Ceremony, 2024. Photo credit: Trinity College}}] |
| Commencement is the ceremony at the end of each academic year when graduating students receive their diplomas. Typically occurring mid- to late-May on Trinity's Main Quad, the ceremony features speeches and awards given by and to a variety of students, faculty, and staff. These awards include [[trustees|Trustee]] Awards for faculty and staff, as well as awards presented for Student Excellence. It is also traditional for graduating seniors to deliberately step on the [[roosevelt_plaque|Roosevelt Plaque]] during the ceremony, as doing it before Commencement is thought by students to be bad luck. | Commencement is the ceremony at the end of each academic year when graduating students receive their diplomas. Typically occurring mid- to late-May on Trinity's Main Quad, the ceremony features speeches and awards given by and to a variety of students, faculty, and staff. These awards include [[trustees|Trustee]] Awards for faculty and staff, as well as awards presented for Student Excellence. It is also traditional for graduating seniors to deliberately step on the [[roosevelt_plaque|Roosevelt Plaque]] during the ceremony, as doing it before Commencement is thought by students to be bad luck. |
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| Initially, commencement was held on the first Thursday of August, but was moved in the 1850s to the last Thursday in June in order to allow for more comfortable weather. The ceremony was consistently held in June for over 100 years, with the switch to May ceremonies occurring in the 1970s. | Initially, commencement was held on the first Thursday of August, but was moved in the 1850s to the last Thursday in June in order to allow for more comfortable weather. The ceremony was consistently held in June for over 100 years, with the switch to May ceremonies occurring in the 1970s. |
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| The location of commencement has also changed. In the early years of the College, when it was still at its [[old_campus|original location]], the ceremony would start by the (old) [[chapel|Chapel]] at 8:30 a.m. At 9:30, the group would leave campus and head to Asylum Street, where they would stop at [[brownell_thomas_church|Bishop Thomas Church Brownell's]] house and sing "Auld Lang Syne." The procession then would continue to the venue where the commencement ceremony was to be held. The earliest ceremonies were held in Central Congregational Church until 1831, when the location was changed to the newly completed Christ Church. The church, along with Trinity students and staff, was also often full of children from the local community, as many [[hartford|Hartford]] schools gave students the day off on Trinity's commencement day. The College newspaper, the //[[tablet|Trinity Tablet]]//, reported the festive atmosphere at the ceremony of 1868: “The attendance was large. The smiling faces in the galleries, the flutter of the ‘[[colors|green and white]],’ and the rare display of bouquets and baskets of flowers, made a lively and animated scene.” This glowing report of the commencement proceedings by Trinity’s student newspaper, later the //[[tripod|Trinity Tripod]]//, was the first of many to be published throughout the College’s history. Glenn Weaver, in his //History of Trinity College//, notes how Trinity’s commencement was “the social high point of the summer for proper Hartford,” with the city’s most extravagant “display of feminine fashions” accompanying the occasion. | The location of commencement has also changed. In the early years of the College, when it was still at its [[old_campus|original location]], the ceremony would start by the (old) [[chapel|Chapel]] at 8:30 a.m. At 9:30, the group would leave campus and cross Bushnell Park to Asylum Street, where they would stop at [[brownell_thomas_church|Bishop Thomas Church Brownell's]] house and sing "Auld Lang Syne." The procession then would continue to the venue where the commencement ceremony was to be held. The earliest ceremonies were held in Central Congregational Church until 1831, when the location was changed to the newly completed Christ Church. The church, along with Trinity students and staff, was also often full of children from the local community, as many [[hartford|Hartford]] schools gave students the day off on Trinity's commencement day. |
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| The last ceremony to be held in Christ Church was in 1860. It was moved to St. John's Church in 1861, but due to the large number of people the space had to hold, the ceremony was moved again the following year to Allyn Hall. The commencement ceremony of 1878 was the last one to be held at the old campus, and the president's reception that year took place in the newly built [[seabury_hall|Seabury Hall]] on the [[summit_campus|new campus]]. | The last ceremony to be held in Christ Church was in 1860. It was moved to St. John's Church in 1861, but due to the large number of people the space had to hold, the ceremony was moved again the following year to Allyn Hall. The commencement ceremony of 1878 was the last one to be held at the old campus, and the president's reception that year took place in the newly built [[seabury_hall|Seabury Hall]] on the [[summit_campus|new campus]]. |
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| Due to the smaller student body in the College's early years on the old campus, each graduating senior was able to receive his degree directly from the [[presidents|president]] and shake his hand. Though inconsistent throughout the decades, it was also traditional for each graduate to touch "[[brownell_book|The Book]]." This book, according to College legend, was the small record journal that President Brownell, Trinity's first president, used in place of a Bible during the College's very first commencement ceremony. He had wanted each senior to touch a Bible as they graduated, but forgot to bring one; the journal was used in its place. | Due to the smaller student body in the College's early years on the old campus, each graduating senior was able to receive his degree directly from the [[presidents|president]] and shake his hand. Though inconsistent throughout the decades, it was also traditional for each graduate to touch "[[brownell_book|The Book]]." Other early commencements also included welcoming speeches given in Latin, prayers spoken by the president, and music provided by the choir at Christ Church. Local Hartford bands also supplied music over the course of the day, something that is true to modern ceremonies. |
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| Other facets of early commencements also included welcoming speeches given in Latin, prayers spoken by the President, and music provided by the choir at Christ Church. Local Hartford bands also supplied music over the course of the day, something that is true to modern ceremonies. | |
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| **Commencements during Wartime** | **Commencements during Wartime** |
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| One of the most striking factors to spark change in the rituals and rhetoric that have constituted Trinity’s commencement ceremonies of years past has been war. During World Wars I and II, during which many of Trinity’s undergraduate men fought overseas, commencement proceedings took on a heavy patriotic and memorializing emphasis, along with meager graduating classes and fragmented academic schedules. Degrees were conferred in absentia to those graduates serving in the armed forces. [{{::detail_of_photographer-presidentflavelsweeten-1918.jpg?200 |Theodore Roosevelt and President Luther at the 1918 commencement ceremony. Photo credit: [[https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.34262381|Trinity College Archives]]}}] | One of the most striking factors to spark change in the rituals and rhetoric that have constituted Trinity’s commencement ceremonies of years past has been war. During World Wars I and II, during which many of Trinity’s undergraduate men fought overseas, commencement proceedings took on a heavy patriotic and memorializing emphasis, along with meager graduating classes and fragmented academic schedules. Degrees were conferred in absentia to those graduates serving in the armed forces. |
| | [{{ ::commencement_navy_cadets.jpg?400|Navy cadets at the 1943 Commencement. Photo credit: //Trinity College Alumni News//, June 1943}}] |
| Former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was in attendance at the 1918 ceremony, receiving an honorary degree. Roosevelt delivered an address on the Sunday before Commencement, during an open-air religious service. The open-air service continued to be a part of the events held on the Sunday before Commencement in following years, including commencements held during World War II. However, the commencement of 1942 marked a change in the configuration of the commencement weekend schedule: the commencement ceremony was moved from Monday morning to Sunday afternoon, following the open-air service. Commencement of 1942 was also planned to take place four weeks earlier than previous ceremonies had been, due to the increasing demand for accelerated academic programs for men who wished to complete their education before going overseas to fight in the war. In addition to the spring commencement ceremony, a mid-winter graduation was added to the academic calendar for the first time in the College’s history in order to award degrees to the thirty seniors who wished to leave the College early to join the armed forces. These men were able to graduate early due to [[wesleyan-trinity_summer_school|accelerated academic sessions]] in conjunction with Wesleyan University that were offered in the summer of 1942. [{{ ::commencement_navy_cadets.jpg?400|Navy cadets at the 1943 Commencement. Photo credit: //Trinity College Alumni News//, June 1943}}] Another commencement ceremony was held at the end of the following semester, with only 60 graduates. A similar accelerated degree program was offered the following year, with two commencements held in February and June of 1944. The accelerated program allowed students to graduate from the College at the end of any of the three sessions (Fall, Winter, Summer) held throughout the year, which significantly fragmented the graduating classes and made for slightly less ceremony and decorum at commencement ceremonies while the program was popular during the WWII years. During these ceremonies, as in the commencements undertaken during the first World War, several degrees were conferred in absentia. | Former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was in attendance at the 1918 ceremony, receiving an [[honorary_degrees|honorary degree]]. Roosevelt delivered an [[theodore_roosevelt_speech|address]] on the Sunday before Commencement, during an open-air religious service. The open-air service continued to be a part of the events held on the Sunday before Commencement in following years, including commencements held during World War II. However, the commencement of 1942 marked a change in the configuration of the commencement weekend schedule: the commencement ceremony was moved from Monday morning to Sunday afternoon, following the open-air service. Commencement of 1942 was also planned to take place four weeks earlier than previous ceremonies had been, due to the increasing demand for accelerated academic programs for men who wished to complete their education before going overseas to fight in the war. In addition to the spring commencement ceremony, a mid-winter graduation was added to the academic calendar for the first time in the College’s history in order to award degrees to the thirty seniors who wished to leave the College early to join the armed forces. These men were able to graduate early due to [[wesleyan-trinity_summer_school|accelerated academic sessions]] in conjunction with Wesleyan University that were offered in the summer of 1942. Another commencement ceremony was held at the end of the following semester, with only 60 graduates. A similar accelerated degree program was offered the following year, with two commencements held in February and June of 1944. The accelerated program allowed students to graduate from the College at the end of any of the three sessions (Fall, Winter, Summer) held throughout the year, which significantly fragmented the graduating classes and made for slightly less ceremony and decorum at commencement ceremonies while the program was popular during the WWII years. During these ceremonies, as in the commencements undertaken during the first World War, several degrees were conferred in absentia. |
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| The tradition of seniors touching the Book at graduation was reinstated later in Trinity's history by President [[funston_g._keith|G. Keith Funston]] in 1947. Several of today’s commencement traditions were first instated during the latter half of the 20th century. Trinity’s [[alma_mater|Alma Mater]], “’Neath The Elms” has been sung during the Order of Exercises beginning with the spring ceremony of 1944. Another tradition adopted around this time which is sustained today was the singing of the National Anthem, begun in 1949. The “Charge to the Graduating Class,” a lecture addressed directly to the seniors at commencement, has been a part of the Order of Exercises since 1944 and has been either delivered by the president of the College or a guest speaker. | The tradition of seniors touching the Book at graduation was reinstated later in Trinity's history by President [[funston_g._keith|G. Keith Funston]] in 1947. Several of today’s commencement traditions were first instated during the latter half of the 20th century. Trinity’s [[alma_mater|Alma Mater]], “’Neath The Elms” has been sung during the Order of Exercises beginning with the spring ceremony of 1944. Another tradition adopted around this time which is sustained today was the singing of the National Anthem, begun in 1949. The “Charge to the Graduating Class,” a lecture addressed directly to the seniors at commencement, has been a part of the Order of Exercises since 1944 and has been either delivered by the president of the College or a guest speaker. |
| **Commencement from 1950-present** | **Commencement from 1950-present** |
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| The [[symbols_of_president_s_office|mace]], carried by a student mace-bearer during the academic procession, became a part of the commencement ceremony in 1950. The [[symbols_of_president_s_office|Presidential Collar]] also became a part of the commencement ritual around this time. | The [[symbols_of_president_s_office|mace]], carried by a student mace-bearer during the academic procession, became a part of the commencement ceremony in 1950. The [[symbols_of_president_s_office|presidential collar]] also became a part of the commencement ritual around this time. |
| [{{::commencement_women_grads.jpg?400 |Trinity's first women graduates, 1970. Photo credit: [[https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.22406584|Trinity College Archives]]}}] | [{{::commencement_women_grads.jpg?400 |Trinity's first women graduates, 1970. Photo credit: [[https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.22406584|Trinity College Archives]]}}] |
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| The first women to receive Baccalaureate degrees from Trinity graduated at the commencement ceremony of 1970 after the undergraduate program was officially made co-ed in the fall of 1969. Judith Dworin (B.A. American Studies), Judith Ann Laughton Odlum (B.A. Modern Languages), Elizabeth Martin Gallo (B.A. Psychology), and Roberta Joy Russell (B.A. English) were the first four women to receive degrees from Trinity. In 1973, Trinity celebrated its 150th anniversary, recalling how “In 1827, Trinity’s first graduating class had 14 students--all men. This year, the graduating class included 265 males and 121 females, and was the first class in which the women had spent all four years at Trinity since the college went coeducational in 1969.” | The first women to receive Baccalaureate degrees from Trinity graduated at the commencement ceremony of 1970 after the undergraduate program was officially made co-ed in the fall of 1969. Judith Dworin (B.A. American Studies), Judith Ann Laughton Odlum (B.A. Modern Languages), Elizabeth Martin Gallo (B.A. Psychology), and Roberta Joy Russell (B.A. English) were the first four women to receive degrees from Trinity. In 1973, Trinity celebrated its 150th anniversary, recalling how “In 1827, Trinity’s first graduating class had 14 students--all men. This year, the graduating class included 265 males and 121 females, and was the first class in which the women had spent all four years at Trinity since the college went coeducational in 1969.” |
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| The 1997 commencement ceremony featured an address by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. The distinguished politician was invited to the College thanks to connections to his administration within the Trinity community: Trinity's president at the time, [[dobelle_evan_s|Evan Dobelle]], had served as Assistant Secretary of Protocol in the White House during Carter’s presidency, and Presidential Fellow Jim King who had helped to organize the 1976 Democratic Convention, was White House Personnel Director for one year, and then was appointed as Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board by Carter in 1977. During his appearance at Trinity, Carter also became the first recipient of the Trinity College Engineering and Society Prize. The $25,000 prize was established as part of the 100th anniversary of the College’s Engineering Department, and is meant to honor accomplished figures in the field of engineering, as well as those who have used their knowledge of engineering to go beyond the field. Carter’s [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/trinarchives/15|address]] to the graduating class encouraged the seniors to reach beyond their own class, race, level of education, to do good in the world for people in need. | \\ |
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| In 2001, the Alumni Reunion and Commencement were combined, reviving a tradition dating from the 19th century. The decision was made to “give alumni and the senior class an opportunity to network, share experiences, and celebrate the importance of the College in their lives.” Combining the program meant accommodating for significantly increased attendance at both Commencement and the Reunion in comparison to the 1800s. Programming to encourage interaction between the seniors and the alumni included mixers with faculty, seminars, lectures, tours, receptions, and other social events. Before 1967, Commencement and Reunion had been held on the same weekend, in a tradition dating back more than a century. In 1967 and 1968, the events were held on separate weekends. The following years, they were combined at the request of the alumni. From the early 1970s until 1981, Reunion was held during the fall [[homecoming|Homecoming]] weekend. In 1981, at the recommendation of the National Alumni Association Executive Committee, Reunion was scheduled to take place several weeks after Commencement, which continued until 2001. Today, the Alumni Reunion is held in the first weekend of June, after Commencement. | \\ |
| [{{ ::commencement_2021.jpg?400|Commencement, 2021. Photo credit: //The Trinity Reporter//, Fall 2021}}] | \\ |
| In 2009, to commemorate 40 years of co-education at Trinity, all honorary degrees were awarded to women. The commencement speaker for this year was Joanna Jeanne Scott ’82, an author of several novels and a professor in literature. Honorati were Marjorie Van Eenam Butcher (Doctor of Science), professor of mathematics at Trinity and Deborah Bial (Doctor of Humane Letters), president and founder of the Posse Foundation. Professor Butcher was the first woman hired to serve on Trinity’s faculty. Bial’s foundation, in partnership with Trinity, provided scholarships for a diverse number of students. | \\ |
| | [{{ ::commencement_2021.jpg?400|Commencement, 2021. Photo credit: //The Trinity Reporter//, Fall 2021}}] |
| In the spring of 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, in-person Commencement was postponed until the spring of 2021 and the graduating seniors participated in a virtual Baccalaureate program. In a tribute video recorded by the administration, President [[berger-sweeney_joanne|Joanne Berger-Sweeney]] assured the seniors that “Today’s activities are in no way intended to replace a traditional commencement ceremony, but we couldn’t let today pass without marking the completion of the academic year and celebrating you, our graduating students.” The virtual program featured guest speaker the Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. The following year, Commencement proceeded in-person as planned in two consecutive ceremonies to reduce crowd density. Graduates were allowed two guests, and Covid-19 protocols remained in place. Students living on campus were required to test negative, and vaccination proof and a negative test were required of all guests in attendance. In addition, face masks and social distancing protocols were required at the ceremony. [{{ ::commencement_2024.jpg?400|The Trinity Pipes perform the alma mater, “’Neath the Elms” at the Bicentennial Commencement Ceremony, 2024. Photo credit: Trinity College}}] The commencement address was delivered by Hartford HealthCare President and CEO Jeffrey A. Flaks, who said to the seniors that “The pandemic has taught us that we can’t go back to the way things were, nor should we want to. You are too good, too smart, and too wise to go back to normal. You will make a future that is better than normal.” Commencement 2021 also celebrated the honorary degree recipients of 2020, who were the first four women to receive undergraduate degrees from the College. | \\ |
| | In the spring of 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, in-person commencement was postponed until the spring of 2021 and the graduating seniors participated in a virtual Baccalaureate program. In a tribute video recorded by the administration, President [[berger-sweeney_joanne|Joanne Berger-Sweeney]] assured the seniors that “Today’s activities are in no way intended to replace a traditional commencement ceremony, but we couldn’t let today pass without marking the completion of the academic year and celebrating you, our graduating students.” The following year, Commencement proceeded in-person as planned in two consecutive ceremonies to reduce crowd density. |
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| Commencement 2024 marked the end of Trinity’s Bicentennial year and the 198th Commencement Ceremony. | Commencement 2024 marked the end of Trinity’s Bicentennial year and the 198th Commencement Ceremony. |
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| ===== Sources ===== | ===== Sources ===== |
| [[https://www.trincoll.edu/commencement/|Trinity College Commencement Weekend]], 2024. | [[https://www.jstor.org/site/trinity/trinitycollegepublications/commencementprograms-36739208/?searchUri=%2Fsite%2Ftrinity%2Ftrinitycollegepublications%2F%3Fso%3Ditem_title_str_asc%26searchkey%3D1729699573643%26doi%3D10.2307%252Fcontainer.36739208&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&refreqid=fastly-default%3Ade01fb1dca958c79280b898890bdcb75&searchkey=1729699573643&so=item_title_str_asc|Trinity College Commencement Programs]] |
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| [[https://www.trincoll.edu/news/trinity-college-commencement-celebrates-the-generation-our-world-needs/|Trinity College Commencement Celebrates ‘The Generation Our World Needs’]] by Andrew J. Concatelli, May 19 2024. | [[https://www.trincoll.edu/commencement/|Trinity College Commencement Weekend]] |
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| [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/commencement/1/|Trinity College Commencement Program]], 2022. | [[https://www.trincoll.edu/news/trinity-college-commencement-celebrates-the-generation-our-world-needs/|Trinity College Commencement Celebrates ‘The Generation Our World Needs’]] by Andrew J. Concatelli, May 19, 2024. |
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| [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/reporter/438|Trinity Reporter]], Fall 2021. | [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/reporter/438|Trinity Reporter]], Fall 2021. |
| [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tripod/3372|Trinity Tripod]], 03-09-2021. | [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tripod/3372|Trinity Tripod]], 03-09-2021. |
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| [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/reporter/434 |The Trinity Reporter]], Fall 2020. | [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/reporter/434 |Trinity Reporter]], Fall 2020. |
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| [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tripod/3285|Trinity Tripod]], 04-14-2009. | [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tripod/3285|Trinity Tripod]], 04-14-2009. |
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| [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/reporter/427|The Trinity Reporter]], Spring 2001. | [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/reporter/427|Trinity Reporter]], Spring 2001. |
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| [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/w_books/2/|Trinity College in the Twentieth Century]] (2000) by Peter and Anne Knapp, pp. 232-233. | [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/w_books/2/|Trinity College in the Twentieth Century]] (2000) by Peter and Anne Knapp, pp. 232-233. |
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| [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/reporter/220|Trinity Reporter]], June 1970. | [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/reporter/220|Trinity Reporter]], June 1970. |
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| [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/commencement/53|Trinity College Commencement Program]], 1970. | |
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| [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/w_books/4/|The History of Trinity College]] (1967) by Glenn Weaver, pp. 111-112, 134-135, 186. | [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/w_books/4/|The History of Trinity College]] (1967) by Glenn Weaver, pp. 111-112, 134-135, 186. |
| [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tripod/2919|Trinity Tripod]], 05-06-1953. | [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tripod/2919|Trinity Tripod]], 05-06-1953. |
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| [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/reporter/3|Trinity College Bulletin]], July 1950. | [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/reporter/3|Trinity College Bulletin]], July 1950. |
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| [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/commencement/74|Trinity College Commencement Program]], 1949. | |
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| [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/bulletin/547/|Trinity College Bulletin 1943-44 (Catalogue)]], 1944. | [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/bulletin/547/|Trinity College Bulletin 1943-44 (Catalogue)]], 1944. |
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| [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/commencement/80/|Trinity College Commencement Program]], February 1944. | |
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| [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/reporter/196|Trinity College Alumni News]], June 1943. | [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/reporter/196|Trinity College Alumni News]], June 1943. |
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| [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tablets/6|Trinity Tablet]], September 1868. | [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tablets/6|Trinity Tablet]], September 1868. |
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| [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/commencement/193|Trinity College Commencement Program]], 1832. | |
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| [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/commencement/197|Trinity College Commencement Program]], 1828. | |
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| [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/commencement/198|Trinity College Commencement Program]], 1827. | |
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