Over 3,000 West Virginia University students are now among the ranks of Mountaineer alumni.
West Virginia University President Gordon Gee, the heads of the thirteen WVU colleges, and several honorary degree recipients were on hand as part of nine ceremonies that were hosted as part of Spring Commencement Weekend. Tens of thousands of people from around the world traveled to the Coliseum to celebrate the accomplishments of their loved ones as they prepared to move on to the next phase of their lives. Graduates included a combination of Mountain State residents, students from almost every state of the country, and some from other parts of the world.
“What a great day, and it’s great to see so many people here cheering and having a wonderful time,” said Gee in one of his several addresses made during the nine ceremonies this weekend. “It is a glorious day in the life of our university, and it is a glorious day in your lives, so I’m happy to be here,” he said.
The WVU College of Law kicked off ceremonies on Friday, followed by ceremonies for the School of Dentistry, School of Pharmacy, School of Nursing, and School of Public Health. This was followed by a ceremony for students of the School of Medicine, which included a speech from U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, who was in attendance to receive an honorary degree. These ceremonies celebrated several students who have chosen to expand on their education in career paths that ranged from public defense to childcare medicine.
“It is an incredible honor coming from the WVU School of Medicine,” said Capito during her speech during the second ceremony on Friday. “The education, the research, and the medical services being done here at WVU School of Medicine is nothing short of life changing,” she said.
Students from the Reed College of Media and the College of Creative Arts walked the podium to start commencement ceremonies on Saturday, followed by the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design and the John Chambers College of Business and Economics. After each ceremony, graduates each took time to celebrate with their family members and fellow Mountaineers, in some cases reminiscing around parts of campus where they spent a large share of time as students. Whether that was at the Mountainlair, one of the several WVU athletic locations, or one of the several dozen halls on campus where classes are hosted,.
“I’ll remember the community that I built here,” said WVU graduate Marcayla King. “Having the friends that I’ve made here, they’re the ones that made this experience what it is now,” she said.
The final day of ceremonies for WVU Spring Commencement Weekend concluded on Sunday with the College of Applied Human Sciences celebrating their graduates in the morning. This was followed by the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources and the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, the WVU college with the largest graduating class for this semester. U.S. Senator Joe Manchin was on hand to address graduates during the final ceremony during commencement weekend, where he also received an honorary degree from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.
“WVU Mountaineers always overcomes those challenges, the history of this institution shows a dogding persistence in overcoming challenges with creative, innovative solutions,” said Manchin, addressing students during his speech Sunday. “WVU has been at the forefront of turning challenges into opportunities,” he said.
As over 3,000 students from across the Mountain State, around the country, and in all parts of the world prepare to move to further their education or be a part of the workforce, students who celebrated with their families expressed a combination of excitement, nervousness, and gratitude for the time spent in Morgantown. As they move on to the next phase of their lives, the graduates of the WVU Spring Class of 2024 feel fortunate to spend their time at WVU.
“What I’ll remember most is the friends I’ve made along the way, the good times,” said WVU Law School graduate Trey Tarantini. “The law always changes, it’s a field in flux, the rules come and go but the people are forever,” he said.