Commencement was held yesterday on the Quad, and there is much to say about it.

First, we had some terrific speakers.  Gwen Ifill was the main event.  Her speech talked about caring about something and doing things that matter, and I think it would have resonated with our students who really have exemplified our Pro Humanitate motto.  In addition to keeping her speech short and sweet (read it here), there were moments of levity, such as when she took a picture to tweet later, and also moments of great poignancy, when she talked about her mentor, Tim Russert of NBC’s Meet the Press fame.  Tim had been a good friend of Wake Forest and had agreed to give the commencement speech before he passed away unexpectedly.  That commencement is still tinged with pain for me, because I bet he would have given a magnificent speech.

Dr. Hatch also spoke to the graduates about grit – the ability to be scrappy and nimble and to work harder until you master your task.  He cited some very interesting research about what made successful people successful, and grit has a lot to do with it.  Read his full speech here.

For those who did not attend – or did, and want to remember every minute – there is terrific coverage on the Commencement News page.  This has everything from speeches, programs, social media coverage and more.  I commend it to you.

Finally, the weather.  The University made the call to hold it outside on the Quad despite the chance of light rain in the early morning.  It really did not do much more than drizzle a couple of times before the ceremony started.  At the end, almost at the minute that the graduates entered the recessional, the skies opened and we got a pretty good rain.

Still, graduating on the Quad is a cherished tradition of students, and even though they got wet at the very end, I can promise you that from what I hear from past classes who had to graduate in the Joel because of rain, they feel cheated of one of their most anticipated moments.  So while I am sorry for the rain at the end, I am glad that our students got to celebrate their Commencement in the way they’d been dreaming of since coming to campus.

Congratulations to the Class of 2013!

Commencement weekend is almost here, and we wanted to give our Deac families a way to be a part of all the action, whether you are here on campus or whether you want to follow along at home.

For those of you who use Twitter and will be on campus this weekend, we encourage you to tweet your Commencement experiences using the hashtag of #wfugrad.  Our crack team of social media experts here will be pulling together tweets and adding them to a Storify series they are working on.  And if you can’t be here – but want to see what Commencement is like – set your Twitter search for #wfugrad and you’ll get to see all relevant tweets.

There is initial coverage of Commencement on our social media web page, where they share pictures of graduates and their best memories of Wake Forest.  It’s a really cute feature and you should check it out, Deac families.

For those of you who are data wonks, we have a list of past Commencement speakers, as well as a ‘did you know’ section with fun facts.

There is also a link for a Commencement Live webcast for those of you who might want to watch the ceremony online.

Finally, if you have not discovered the new Quad Cam, you want to check it out and bookmark it.  This is a new feature and will allow you to get a glimpse of the Quad (Hearn Plaza) any time.  It will be especially fun to watch as the 10,000 chairs get set out and you see the amazing setup – and even more amazing fast takedown – of all the chairs and equipment.

Today’s Daily Deac is an invitation for New York City Wake Forest parents and families.  One of my colleagues in Employer Relations is sponsoring an event in NYC and wants all area Deac families to know they are welcome – encouraged, even! – to attend.  Here is the text of her email invitation below.

———————-

It’s no surprise that many of our students want to live and work in New York City—it’s an energetic, vibrant city that offers growth and challenging professional opportunities for our students.  With this is mind, we are excited to let you know about Wake Forest Connects – NYC.  

On June 5th, we will host a networking event designed to help connect current students with Wake Forest alumni, parents, and friends who live and work in the New York area. The event will kick-off with an industry panel who will share advice, tips and strategies for effective networking.

Following the panel discussion, students will have an opportunity to participate in structured networking (in small groups of 8-10) with a wider group of industry professionals.  The evening will end with an open networking reception for all participants at the LCL: Bar and Kitchen (co-sponsored by Scott Gerber P ’17).

Today’s Daily Deac has been guest written by the Office of Sustainability.  This is a great message for our senior families!

—————————

Many members of the Class of 2013 will leave Reynolda campus behind this spring, but all Demon Deacons carry Wake Forest values with them wherever they go.  These values include our campus-wide commitment to sustainability.

For a third year, the Office of Sustainability is asking graduating seniors to solidify their commitment to environmental stewardship and social justice by signing the Green Graduation Pledge.

Seniors will have the opportunity to sign the pledge when they pick up their tickets for graduation from the University Bookstore on Friday May 18^th and Saturday May 19^th from 9-4pm.  The first 250 signatories will receive a coffee mug printed with the Green Graduation pledge, which reads:

I pledge to take into account the social and environmental consequences of any future endeavors and to work to improve the sustainability of the communities in which I work, live and play.

Though we say goodbye for now, we know the Class of 2013 will always fly the colors black and gold and live the color green.

For parents and families of graduating seniors, we like to offer you a few thoughts and suggestions on the happiest day of the year on campus: Commencement.

Your mission – should you choose to accept it – is to begin saying prayers and sending positive thoughts for the ideal weather day – sunny and  maybe 75.  That’s your goal.

From having worked many Commencements past, here are some tips I have learned along the way.  Take them as you will.

Weather:  pay attention to the weather forecast for the days leading up to Commencement, and pack clothes accordingly.  That could include rain wear, umbrellas, light jackets, or your warmest, lightest clothing.  Keep an eye on the weather.

Attire: you will see everything from suits and ties and dressy spring suits for women, to sundresses and golf shirts and slacks.  The tendency is to be a little more dressy perhaps, but Deac men should give themselves the option of taking off the jacket and loosening the tie if it gets warm.  Deac women, think about if you tend to be hot or cold natured and determine whether you want the option of a jacket or sweater or pashmina.

Shoes: the Quad grass will be dewy in the morning.  If you wear your fanciest and most impressive shoes, it is almost certain they will get wet, and about an equal chance of getting mud or grass on them.  Use your impressive shoes if you go to Baccalaureate (as it is inside), but beware of your best pair of shoes on Commencement day.

Sunscreen: is a must.  Or a hat.  Or both.  You will be outside for 3+ hours, and while there are some trees, there is not enough to bring huge areas of shade.  If you are sensitive to light, be aware of this.

Older relatives:  personal story – my grandmother wanted very much to see me graduate, but she was very sensitive to too much heat and sun, and was not great about being able to walk a long ways.  While we do our best to make everyone comfortable, if you have relatives for whom an outdoor event would not be good for them, consider that before you all come.  Each family needs to make the decision that is best for them.  There is a live feed of Commencement into Pugh Auditorium (in the Benson Center), which is indoors.  Space is limited.

Seating on the Quad: bring some paper towels or a washcloth from your hotel (please return them!) to wipe off your chairs at Commencement.  While the staff tries to go through and wipe the dew off the chairs, they are not always able to get to all 10,000 chairs before guests arrive.

When to arrive Commencement Day: everyone asks this, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer.   My own parents were in line at 6 am because they wanted to be among the first to get on the Quad and find their seats.  They then had a 3 hour wait, so they read the paper, took a stroll, etc.  For other families, they might want to arrive later.  You must ask yourself how important it is to you to get there early and have lots of options about seating vs. how much you want to avoid waiting.  Know that there will be traffic, and there will be lines as you check in.

Bathrooms:  there are many.  Residence halls and Reynolda Hall are open, but there will be lines.  You might fare well to consider going to the Benson Center (a short walk) or Scales Fine Arts Center (closer to the Quad) if you don’t want to wait.  Because we read every student’s name, you will be able to see how long it takes as they begin and can plan your restroom break accordingly.

Intern C (’13) blogs today about the DESK project that took place on Monday of this week.

————————

Monday, student organizations gathered on the Mag Quad from 3-7 pm to volunteer at D.E.S.K. (Discovering Education Through Student Knowledge). Beginning in 2000, the goal of D.E.S.K is to provide desks and other school necessities to children in the local community who are in need of these school supplies to study and learn in their homes.

Leaders for each student group met with their child on March 27^th to talk about what that child would like their desk to look like. The children and their parents then came to campus Monday to help paint or further discuss their desk ideas and to enjoy a day of fun on the quad with music, a moon bounce, pizza and the Wake student groups.

By the end of the event, around 55 elementary school children received desks.

Here are pictures of some of the finished products!

Last week, students celebrated the annual week-long celebration: Springfest! Students “sail[ed] into Springfest” on Monday evening where music group, Green River Ordinance and Mandolin Orange played on the Mag Quad.

On Tuesday afternoon, the quad became a “marketplace marina” where many local shops and stores brought a selection of items to the quad so that students could shop in between classes and their other activities; “Bands on the Sands” allowed student bands to perform in front of their peers on Tuesday night. Many students gathered on the quad and surrounding patio areas to enjoy the music and time with friends. Shorty’s Tuesday trivia was also Springfest themed.

From Wednesday through the rest of the week, the Deacon Shop held their Deacon Discount days, marking items 50%, 60% and even 70% off! Wednesday’s events concluded with comedy central when Student Union welcomed various comedians to campus.

Coinciding with the first day of the Masters on Thursday, the campus traditions council gave out free Arnold Palmer drinks (Iced tea and lemonade)—Arnold Palmer is a Wake Alum! Later that evening, Davis field was transformed into a beach where students could enjoy inflatable water slides, games, smoothies and funnel cakes. In preparation for Shag on the Mag, Student Union also hosted a shag dancing short course.

The week concluded with free ice cream on the Mag Quad on Friday afternoon and the much anticipated, Shag on the Mag Friday night. This annual dance is held in a large tent that covers the Mag Quad in its entirety. Students dressed in their brightest spring dresses and suits to enjoy an evening of live music, dancing and catered food.

Our hearts are heavy following the horrific incident at the Boston Marathon.  In the past few years, we have seen a good number of incoming first-year students from the Boston area, which means there are a lot of Deac families up there.  We are thinking of you, and praying for you, and hoping you and your friends and loved ones are not hurt.

We also have a lot of runner Deacs – students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families alike.  I see people running all over campus and the surrounding roads every day, and sometimes I’m one of them.  Dean Steve Reinemund of the Schools of Business hosts “Dawn with the Dean” each week, and we also have a “Run, Forest, Run (or Walk, Forest, Walk)” group that meets.  We have track and field athletes, running clubs, you name it.

And today we hurt for Boston, and we hurt for runners everywhere who worked and trained so hard to qualify for this elite event only to have it so horrifically scarred.  And we are grateful for first responders, medical personnel, and everyone who helped in the immediate aftermath.

An alumna friend of mine – who calls herself a “former non-runner” – posted something on Facebook last night urging anyone who runs races to wear something today from a race you’ve run – a tshirt, a race bib, a hat, whatever – in support of those in Boston.  If you are a Deac runner, consider doing this.

I do not yet know of the impact the Boston incident had on the WFU family.  I can tell you that our outstanding administration – including the Chaplain’s office, Counseling Center, Campus Life, and News Service among others – work tirelessly in these cases to find out where our campus community is impacted and to offer help and support where they can.  As we have updates, we will let you know.

Boston and runners everywhere, we are with you.

Campus Day was held this past Friday for students (and their parents and families) who have been accepted into the Class of 2017.  As you may remember if you attended with your own student, this day is all about giving students an opportunity to experience Wake Forest one more time in its many facets – academic, campus life, residence hall life, and more.

The Parent Programs office always has a display at Campus Day so we can (hopefully!) meet our new families.  From those who stopped by our table, it seemed like about half the families and students at Campus Day were already enrolled and were so excited to see their college home again; the other half were in the final stages of trying to decide between Wake Forest and [other top choice].

The day started a bit ominously, with early morning rain, but it cleared up before the crowds were arriving and the day turned into a beautiful sunny one.  All the flowers and trees are in bloom right now, and Wake Forest is in all her glory.

At the end of Campus Day, our wonderful Spirit of the Old Gold and Black marching band went into the final assembly in Wait Chapel and with the help of the Demon Deacon led the students and families out onto the Quad with a rousing version of the fight song, O Here’s to Wake Forest.  The trumpets led the way and the rest of the band formed a sort of tunnel outside.  You can watch it here on Youtube.

Once all the families were outside, the Spirit of the Old Gold and Black continued playing for them, and the Deacon was there to dance with students and take pictures with them.  Again, video available on Youtube.   Pretty much a perfect ending to the day.  

And for your current students…around the end of Campus Day there appeared to be a big exodus from campus for some students heading to the beach for the weekend, probably with some of our fraternities and sororities.  I saw a lot of painted coolers and students with luggage and big smiles on their faces.  For those who stayed, Friday night was Shag on the Mag, the tented beach dance on the lower Quad, which is the highlight of Springfest.

We have one more Campus Day this Friday – so we’ll be at it again.

We received this nice flyer from some colleagues on campus and wanted to make sure your students had the opportunity to see it and take part in some of these lectures and festivities next week.

The Organization of Latin American Students is proud to celebrate the second annual Latino Awareness Week, from Monday, April 15th to Sunday, April 21st.

This flyer shows the full list of events.  Hope your students will enjoy it!