Commencement Weekend 2008

A total of 545 degrees were awarded at today's ceremony. There are 495 candidates for bachelor's degrees, 43 candidates for master's degrees and seven Certificates of Advanced Studies in education will be granted.

* The five most popular majors this year are, in descending order:
Economics - 72
Psychology- 59
Government - 58
History - 49
Biology - 41

In 2007, the top five in descending order were psychology, government, economics, English and history.

* The senior with the highest cumulative grade-point average over four full years of study at St. Lawrence is David M. Baker, of Camden, New York; his GPA is 3.950 (out of a possible 4.0). 

* It is a tradition at St. Lawrence for graduates to have the option of receiving their degree from family members associated with the University. Several of today's candidates received degrees from relatives:
- Davis White Brush from his father, Trustee Jim Brush '77
- Brooks Cochran from his father, Trustee George Cochran
- Jessa Davis from her father, Associate Dean of Student Life Rance Davis '80, M'82
- Phoebe Dwight from her father, Trustee John Dwight
- George Frank from his mother, Library Assistant Laura Frank
- Raurri Jennings from his mother, Assistant Professor of History Evelyn Jennings
- David LaPointe from his mother, Library Assistant Renee Dominie M'05
- Dennis Lock from his parents, Professors of Mathematics Robin and Patti Lock
- Jennifer Munt from her mother, Library Assistant Tish Munt '77
- Matthew Wight from his mother, International and Intercultural Studies Specialist Thadine Wight '78
- Tristan Wolfe from his mother, Arts Metadata Technician Arline Wolfe

* The traditional Commencement ceremony is a uniquely American custom. Therefore, students from other countries who have spent the year or the semester studying at St. Lawrence are invited to participate, to witness this annual custom and acknowledge their academic experience here. Participating this year were:
- Chiara Castelbolognesi, Italy
- Anna Fischerova, Czech Republic
- Kae Wakita, Japan           

* Immediately following today's Commencement ceremony, two students were commissioned into the military, having participated in the Reserve Officers Training Corps program through Clarkson University.

- Andrew Mills, Scarborough, Maine, commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Field Artillery

- Christopher Giovino, of Cobbs Creek, Virginia, commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Military Police in the Virginia National Guard

Updated May 18, 2008