Sinclair360

The journey to commencement at Sinclair begins long before June, though.  Starting in January, the Office of the President coordinates employees and students from the bookstore, Phi Theta Kappa and the offices of registration, publications, security and disability services to create a detailed celebration for some of Sinclair’s finest students. A committee is formed and meets at least once each month until the day of commencement.

Aside from purchasing caps and gowns for students and coordinating regalia rental for faculty and staff, dates must be saved, contracts signed, security obtained, publications and programs designed, names checked, interpreters hired, decorations ordered and emergency medical service booked.

Each year, the graduation process and commencement ceremony become more advanced. The Office of the Registrar has eliminated requirements like applications and fees for graduation, making the process easier for students to manage. As the total number of Sinclair students continues to rise, students can be certain that they will be able to understand and fulfill graduation requirements with the automatic system.

Due to the large number of graduating students and their families, Sinclair opts to host commencement at the University of Dayton Arena. As a levy-supported institution, Sinclair supports local organizations and is a positive contributor to the Dayton community by selecting to host its commencement at another local school.

Another key element of the celebration is the speaker selected to address the crowd at commencement. “We usually try to have some kind of theme for the speaker,” said Mary Gaier, vice president of organizational development and member of the commencement committee for the last six years.

“We’ve had speakers from each level of government, including members of the City of Dayton and state senators like Sherrod Brown. It’s important for them to be a part of our celebration and realize how important Sinclair is to the community and to the economic development of our region.”

“This year, we had Ethel Washington as our speaker,” Gaier said. “As a Sinclair alumna and long-standing board member, it was wonderful to have Ethel show the full circle that many of our students complete; they start as students, then blossom into contributing, successful members of the community.”

Commencement exercises aren’t just for students and their families; faculty and staff members are an essential part of the celebration, as well. “We have about 10 faculty members who serve as marshals to escort students to their seats and let them know when it’s time to walk up to get their diploma,” said Megan Laughter, assistant commencement coordinator. “The faculty members seize the opportunity to participate each year because they love to see the success of their students and be part of that; it allows them to watch their students come full circle from student to graduate.”

The marshals are not the only staff who attend the commencement ceremony. It’s not uncommon to see faculty congratulating students after the ceremony and discussing future plans. Although Sinclair’s faculty and staff have a vested interest in their students’ academic endeavors, they also enjoy watching their students move on to successful careers or other post-graduate programs.

Laughter, who works in the Office of the President at Sinclair, has been involved with commencement at Sinclair for three years and is instrumental in coordinating efforts across departments to ensure the event’s success.

“In the president’s office, most of the people I deal with on a regular basis are members of the community, not students,” Laughter said. “Being part of commencement gives me the opportunity to work with students and witness the culmination of their Sinclair experience. It’s always so meaningful to see faculty and staff there to support the students they’ve taught, and it helps to put everything into perspective.”

By Meghann Heft

Meghann Heft recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Dayton. She can be reached at meghann.heft@gmail.com.