Whew! Another ceremony has ended and I can finally rest my beautiful, aching feet. As Manager of Special Events and Web Communications, one of my principal duties is to coordinate the commencement ceremonies on the Downers Grove Campus. At this winter’s ceremony, we had the graduating classes of the Doctor of Physical Therapy and the Master of Occupational Therapy programs. In total, there were 41 graduates, and more than 400 family and friends in attendance to witness this joyous occasion.

Weeks prior to the ceremony, I arrange for the photographers who will snap each graduate’s handshake photo with Dr. Kathleen H. Goeppinger, President and CEO; secure a brass ensemble that will perform Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance,” the traditional processional piece; and manage the graduation committee to make sure the t’s are crossed and the i’s are dotted on the list of all that needs to be set and complete before the graduates march in and find their seats.

On graduation day, about 10 minutes before the ceremony’s 3:00 PM start time, I cue Dr. Arthur G. Dobbelaere, Executive Vice President and COO, who serves as master of ceremonies, to head to the stage and prepare the guests for the graduates’ arrival. Minutes before show time, you can find me flying from the area on campus where the graduates are gowning, to the Perrin Room in the library where the faculty and administrative members are preparing to line up, back to the auditorium of Littlejohn Hall where the number of guests has grown to maybe 450, each one of them looking at me as I march down the stairs to add an extra chair to the row of seats on the platform.

With everyone in their places, the ushers hold open the doors. The time is 2:57 PM. The brass ensemble awaits its cue to fill the air with music, camera flashes are sneaking past my shoulders, guests are eagerly awaiting their son’s or daughter’s entrance into the auditorium. Two minutes have now passed. I cue the graduates to begin their march in, and the cue is given to the musicians to play their instruments. Walking backwards, I guide the graduates into the auditorium, making sure not to collide with the doorframe (as I did at the last ceremony). The graduates continue down the stairs to their seats. The faculty file in afterward, followed by Karen Johnson and the rest of the administrative team. And finally, there is Dr. Goeppinger, standing at the top of the stairs. She surveys the crowd and proceeds to the stage. I try to make eye contact with Karen Johnson to assure myself that everything is AG (all good).

And it is.



Photo: Karen Johnson congratulations a new alumna while VP Angela Marty looks on.