2023年5月9日 — 毕业典礼 ceremonies at Marist are as picturesque as a postcard, 位于校园绿地上, 俯瞰哈德逊河. As thousands get ready to pack the venue on May 19 and 20, it’s sometimes easy to overlook all that goes into the production. Behind it is a dedicated group of volunteers who make it happen each and every year.

每次毕业典礼都有新的特点. 乔伊墙, Director of Media and Instructional Technology, 谁负责bet亚洲365欢迎投注的媒体中心, which is responsible for all audio and video production. 今年’s big addition to the production will be seen no matter where you’re sitting for the ceremony — two, 12英尺高的高清电视屏幕. 年，这些屏幕首次亮相 凯文·温曼总统的就职典礼 9月.

凯特Donham (far right) and Michael Lewis (second from right) on stage during 毕业典礼.

“The Media Center is proud to say that we have done something new and different EVERY year,沃尔说。. “In 1995, it was me in front of the stage with a camcorder recording the ceremony. 它已经发展成为一个巨大的生产. 今年, for the first time we are using video walls and showing a student slide show prior to step off.”

凯特Donham, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and co-chair of the 毕业典礼 Committee, has been a lead officer of the production for 16 years. Her team in Academic Affairs also runs the Honors Medal and Baccalaureate Ceremonies the evening before 毕业典礼. While she leads the overall effort and planning, she’s also connected to all aspects of the production, including selecting award winners and coordinating student speakers. Donham’s 毕业典礼 world features details big and small.

“I love being on stage every year and watching the students as they cross,” said Donham. “他们很开心，这让我很开心. I see photos and videos, and I’m usually beaming because I’m so glad for our graduates. I love seeing employees walk across who are getting their degrees, and I love to see employees who are walking with their graduates.”

Michael Lewis is Marist’s 注册商 and while this will be just his second 毕业典礼 at Marist, 他的团队多年来一直致力于这项活动. The 注册商’s Office gives students their final clearance for graduation and is responsible for important elements such as diplomas, 文凭了, 标记, 还有阵容卡.

“Although 毕业典礼 season is very busy for our office, everyone jumps in and helps. 在毕业典礼的那一周, we have extended hours to accommodate students’ schedules, 这样他们就可以拿徽章和阵容卡了,刘易斯说。. “We aim to accommodate all students so they can have a memorable 毕业典礼 ceremony.”

As Associate Director of 安全及保安 at Marist, Brian Dolansky and the 安全及保安 team are responsible for a number of tasks throughout campus during 毕业典礼, 包括停车和交通管制, 执法, fire department and EMS coordination and overall venue safety & 安全.

“Our team is all over campus during the events to ensure we are ready to assist anyone that needs help,多兰斯基说. “Our staff members have years of experience facilitating large events on campus and are very good at what they do.”

Jean DeFino is an administrative coordinator at Marist who takes on the additional responsibility of leading the usher team. She recruits student workers and collaborates with various offices to facilitate tasks such as setting up directional signs, 分配程序, 为队伍悬挂横幅, and guiding guests and graduates to their seats while ensuring they are correctly lined up in the right order.

乔伊墙 (left) and Lisa Hamel (right) from the Media Center behind the scenes at a commencement ceremony.

While 毕业典礼 ceremonies create lifelong memories for students and their families, the staff and 教师 involved in the production have also developed their own cherished moments.

“One of my personal favorite moments was when Governor David Paterson was our speaker,多纳姆回忆道. “I was seated behind him and just doing all of my usual stage managing on stage. 他一度转过身来, 伸出他的手, and thanked me for all I was doing for the ceremony. 他是法定盲人, so that he noticed and took the time to reach out a hand to me in that moment meant a lot.”

“My memorable moments are probably too many to count,沃尔说。. “Working with my team of staff and students, first and foremost. 也有很多bet亚洲365欢迎投注天气的故事. I also remember being very pregnant and working, 两次，第一次是7个月, 第二个9个月!”

“One of the first years I hired student workers to be commencement ushers, 两人第一次见面,DeFino说。. “After they graduated, I was informed that they ended up getting married.”

总共, 一百多名圣母教工, 教师, students and other volunteers contribute to the 毕业典礼 ceremony each year.