Senior class looks ahead to ‘10 graduation

Every spring, seniors get to look forward to graduation. In May, for the class of 2010, this is no different. What is different this year is the size of the class graduating, and potentially, the weather.

Senior Tracy Gray said she has mixed feelings about graduation. “Keene was great, but I’m ready to get on with my life,” she said.

Barbara Preston is one of the coordinators for graduation. She said this time of year often comes quicker than expected.

“Graduation is coming, whether we’re ready for it or not. Having the tree come down will push back the set-up by the physical plant, but they are prepared for this kind of stuff,” Preston said.

As far as the graduation speaker is concerned, according to a press release from Campus Spokesperson Robin Dutcher, the speakers this year will be Doctor Carol Geary Schneider who will receive her honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, and David Gagne, winner of the 2010 Granite State Award.

Preston said both of these awards are given out every year, and usually they are given the opportunity to present a three to five minute speech.

Preston also added that this year’s graduating class currently sits at 952 students, about 100 more than last year. Because of that, Preston said graduation may run slightly longer than usual.

“The ceremony officially starts at 1 p.m., but the procession will be leaving Spaulding Gymnasium at 12:30. The ceremony will start when everyone is situated which usually is around 1:00,” Preston said. “We expect it to end between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m., depending on how long various parts run.”

As for any concerns about the weather, Preston said the ceremony will be outside rain or shine, but there will also be indoor viewing areas, if the weather does not cooperate.
“We will have televisions set up inside the Morrison classrooms and the Mabel Brown Room, but students should be prepared to bring both sunscreen and an umbrella because weather has a tendency to change,” Preston said.

Senior Jonathon Girard said while he’s hoping for nice weather, he’s just happy to graduate.

“Graduation would be great if the weather was nice, but even if the weather’s bad, it will still be a relief to be done,” Girard said.

Sean O’Donnell can be reached at sodonnell@keeneequinox.com