by Mikal J. Harris

DE Campus Life Editor

Jennifer Davis became a part of history Dec. 20 by participating in SIUC’s inaugural winter commencement ceremony.

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But it was the ceremony itself that enhanced her memories of an event that she is not likely to forget.

I was really impressed, she said. I thought it went very well considering it was the first one.

December graduates traditionally complained about SIUC’s lack of winter commencement ceremonies, as many planning to leave the area after receiving their degrees were reluctant to return to campus for May exercises. Administrators decided to plan a winter ceremony at SIU Arena last fall, and a number of graduating seniors seized the new opportunity.

The turnout exceeded our anticipation in respect to our graduates and our guests, said Stephen Foster, associate director of records information for Admissions and Records. The objective was to serve the needs of the students, and this hit the nail on the head, didn’t it?

Out of about 2,200 students petitioning to graduate, more than 700 students participated in the ceremony, exceeding commencement organizers’ projection of 600 students. More than 160 faculty also participated in the ceremony.

Another surprise was that about 6,300 people attended the ceremony overall, with 6,000 seats available.

SIU Arena Director Gary Drake said planners based their projections on the summer 1996 commencement at the Arena. Drake said no one knew exactly what to expect.

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Everybody assumed it would be like the summer commencement where there were about four persons per graduate, he said. At the winter commencement there were about six or seven people per graduate. No one figured that this one would be more successful than the others.

John Jackson, vice chancellor of Academic Affairs and provost, also was overwhelmed by the tremendous response to the first winter commencement.

The thing was huge and a huge success, he said. It was a risk because we’ve never done it before, but we plan to make this an annual event. The students appreciate the winter graduation.

Not only was the first winter commencement well-received, but Mother Nature gifted the Southern Illinois region with almost balmy weather commencement weekend.

Foster already is planning improvements for this year’s Dec. 19 winter commencement, such as shortening the ceremony from its running time of two hours and five minutes. But he was pleased that while the first winter commencement began one SIUC tradition, it also resurrected another.

At the end, everyone stood and sang the Southern Alma Mater,’ he said. That hasn’t been done since maybe 1985.

Davis and her family had the chance to participate in both traditions as she received her bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education at the ceremony.

Overall, Davis said the winter commencement ceremony is a benefit for graduating seniors and the entire campus as well.

It was a great experience, she said. I felt that the December graduation was a great asset to SIUC.