More than 2000 students graduated at Wright State’s spring commencement ceremony on April 30.
The spring class of 2016 included 2,045 graduates, which was comprised of 36 associate degrees, 1,281 bachelor’s degrees, 708 masters and 30 doctoral degrees. Participants of the university’s 83rd commencement ceremony hailed from 27 states in total.
The class also included 305 international students representing 27 nations, with India boasting the largest number of foreign graduates.
The ceremony started at 10 a.m. and saw students from all walks of life collectively ending an academic chapter in their lives.
“I’m super excited, it’s taken me long enough to get here,” Ariana Barger, who received a bachelor’s in mass communication, said. “It is kind of bitter sweet because I do have some friends that I get to graduate with but at the same time not all my friends will be graduating with me.”
President David Hopkins addressed the crowd encouraging students to follow the university’s mission statement, “We transform the lives of our students and the communities we serve,” he said citing several distinguished students as examples of the true potential of WSU and the impact that it has.
“When I look out into this arena at today’s graduating class, I am so proud,” Hopkins said. “I am so proud at each of you and what you have accomplished. It fills my heart with joy knowing that the best is yet to come,”
The ceremony ended with the graduates being awarded their respected degrees.
“I’m excited to be done but it just means that I will be back in the fall for my masters,” Craig Finnell, who received a bachelor’s in history, said. “I hope to land in a university setting either working in the archives or library.”
Graduates by college:
- College of Education and Human Services: 316
- College of Engineering and Computer Science: 468
- College of Liberal Arts: 473
- College of Nursing and Health: 109
- College of Science and Mathematics: 322
- Raj Soin College of Business: 259
- Boonshoft School of Medicine: 22 (master’s degree only)
- School of Professional Psychology: 4
- Lake Campus: 87
