APPLETON, Wisconsin – Lawrence University’s 2023 Commencement is set for 10 a.m. Sunday, June 11—an outdoor ceremony on the university’s beautiful Main Hall Green.
As Commencement concludes, a new tradition will be born. The recessional will take the 310 graduates through the Lawrence Arch, built last summer near the intersection of College Avenue and Drew Street. The arch is now part of the welcoming of first-year students and the send-off for graduating seniors. This will be the first graduating class to make that walk. After walking through the arch, the graduates will continue east along College Avenue before gathering for a post-Commencement celebration in front of Mudd Library.
Harold Jordan, a 1972 graduate and longtime supporter of the university, will deliver the Commencement address and receive an honorary doctorate degree. John Bergstrom, executive chairman of Bergstrom Corporation and a civic leader in the Fox Valley, also will receive an honorary doctorate degree.
Tapashwi (Tee) Karki, a government major from Nepal, will be the senior class speaker.
Two long-serving faculty in the Conservatory of Music will be honored at Commencement as they step into retirement. Dane Richeson, a professor of percussion for 39 years, and David Bell, a professor of clarinet for 14 years, will receive citations and honorary degrees honoring their contributions to Lawrence.
Also, visitors to campus on Saturday or Sunday can take in the Senior Art Exhibition in the Wriston Art Center Galleries, a tradition of Commencement weekend. The exhibition is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Sunday’s Commencement ceremony will be available via a livestream. A link to the stream will be available at go.lawrence.edu/commencement.
