By SAMI MCGUIRE
Sports Reporter
It is the day a new chapter starts. The door closes to the past and the future waits.
That day is May 5. Northwestern students will achieve their goals of graduation and receive their diplomas for all their hard work. The day is bound to be a hectic one with families running about and students preparing to graduate.
Students should meet at 9:45 a.m. in the Health and Sports Science Education building for ceremony instructions. Commencement starts at 10 a.m., and will last about 1.5 to 2 hours. The students will walk and their will be a speaker to wish the graduates on their way. It will be held on the Ranger Field, unless the weather is bad, then it will be in the Percefull Fieldhouse.
Northwestern social affairs will hold a congratulatory reception following commencement. The reception will be open to students, friends, staff, faculty and family. Cookies and punch will be served at the event.
Mary Riegel, assistant professor of mathematics, is apart of social affairs, and is the main person in charge of the reception.
“This reception is not something that is offered at all schools,” Riegel said, “and is something that really shows how much we at Northwestern value our students and how proud we are of our graduates. We know many students will begin packing by the time graduation occurs, so the reception provides a chance to celebrate even if they are all set to leave.”
Riegel said the goal of the reception is to give students a time to reminisce on their times at Northwestern, take photos and say goodbye to staff and faculty.
For some this won’t be goodbye to Northwestern. Graduates have a chance to have an impact on Northwestern for the rest of their lives by joining the alumni association.
During commencement graduates will be handed a metal license plate with the words “Northwestern or “Ranger” on them. Attached to the license plate is a card to welcome graduates to the alumni association with a complimentary one-year membership.
John Allen, director of alumni relations, said recent graduates can benefit in many ways by being a part of the alumni association. One way is networking with other alumni to find employment and polish their resumes and cover letters.
Along with that, the alumni board recently added a recent graduates committee to support and connect young alumni.
“Becoming and remaining a member of the alumni association signifies an individual’s commitment to something bigger than perhaps oneself,” Allen said. “Being a proud member of the alumni association tells our future students and graduates that we have a loyal base of alumni who believe in higher education, the University, and the difference a degree can make for an individual as well as our society.”
For more information about the alumni association go to https://my.nwfoundation.com.