Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412120027
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KRISTEN KAMMERER CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
In 1974, the school's administration decided to drop its December graduation ceremony. Since then, students who completed their degrees at the end of the fall semester had to return in the spring if they wanted to don robes and tassels.
No one at the university seems able to recall why the December graduation was terminated. One possibility is that the administration wanted to cut back on expenses. Another is that, at the time, there were not enough students graduating in the winter to justify a full ceremony.
"Twenty years ago, someone made the decision to cancel it, and no one did anything about it," said Jack Barr, manager of the university's news bureau.
The motion to reinstate the winter graduation began with the class of 1995.
According to senior class president Kate Randall, a handful of students approached the Senior Council several months ago. The students felt strongly that those who qualified to graduate in December deserved a ceremony.
In early September, Randall and the Senior Council submitted a proposal to the Commencement Committee, which also had been considering the matter.
The Commencement Committee saw the strong student support and agreed, said Kevin Williams, assistant to the president.
Today more than 400 seniors will receive their diplomas in a ceremony replete with pomp, circumstance and academic regalia.
The students have a variety of reasons for completing their degrees in the winter. Some were working full- or part-time jobs or completing internships that required an additional semester of study.
Others had enrolled in the middle of an academic year or, like Randy Kincer, 26, of Wytheville, had fulfilled his degree's requirements in 3 1/2 years rather than four.
"A lot of people think that if you're graduating in December, that you're behind," he said. "But I'm not behind - I'm ahead!"
Kincer, who will receive a bachelor's degree in business administration, earned his diploma in less time by taking courses during the summers.
With his diploma in hand, the new graduate will move up to a management position at Windward International, a plastics manufacturer, where he worked full-time throughout his college career.
Kincer is thrilled that his family and friends will be able to attend the full graduation ceremony at 11 a.m. in the Dedmon Center.
"I worked really hard to earn my degree, and I feel like I should be recognized," he said.
by CNB