51成人猎奇 Celebrated its 88th Commencement on Saturday
On Saturday, June 3, 152 members of 51成人猎奇鈥檚 Class of 2023 gathered, along with their family members and friends, faculty, and leadership, under a large tent on a green expanse of lawn at the southern end of campus to receive their degrees.
The institution conferred four master鈥檚 degrees, one each in dance and music and two in public action, and 148 bachelor鈥檚 degrees. Undergraduate students had studied Cultural Studies and Languages; Dance; Drama; Environmental Studies; Literature; Music; Science & Mathematics; Society, Culture & Thought; and Visual Arts.
Music Faculty Members Joseph Alpar and Michael Wimberly and Music Fellow Chris Rose began the event with a remix of Former Music Faculty Louis Calabro鈥檚 鈥淐eremonial March.鈥 President Laura Walker led the procession, followed by Nicholas Stephens 鈥77, the chair of the Board of Trustees.
After acknowledging the families of graduates and 51成人猎奇鈥檚 staff, Faculty Speaker Dr. Vanessa Lyon praised the graduates themselves.
鈥淚 want to acknowledge that the members of the class of 2023, as few others before you, have catapulted yourselves over鈥攊f not dragged yourselves doggedly under鈥攐bstacle after obstacle in order to arrive at this profound and victorious moment on a pretty Vermont day in early June,鈥 she said.
The class of 2023 Commencement Speaker was Playwright, screenwriter, and director . She gave an inspiring, funny, and heartwarming speech about the ups and downs that accompany life after college.
鈥淭he first year out of college is hard. There's no way around it,鈥 Alvarez said. Referencing Bennington鈥檚 student-directed curriculum, she continued, 鈥淏ut I think it's less hard for us, as Bennington students, than for those who've had their entire academic careers laid out for them. There's both fear and comfort in the idea that no one else can figure this out for you.鈥
Both Friday's Commencement speeches and Saturday鈥檚 Conferring of Degrees ceremonies are available to watch on the College鈥檚 Commencement webpage.
