Commencement is quickly approaching and our soon-to-be graduates are preparing to walk across the stage Sunday, May 19. To mark the occasion, throughout May, we will give insight into key milestones in commencement celebrations throughout the years.
After Western Reserve College was established in 1826, the institution held ceremonies in 1828 and 1829 to honor the school’s successes. The first degrees weren’t conferred until 1830, at which point the college held a ceremony to recognize its first four graduates.
The college’s School of Medicine held its own March ceremony beginning in 1844, a trend that continued until 1894.
While the rest of the college often held a summer ceremony, in 1862, it was postponed until October due to the Civil War. Then, in 1882, degrees were again conferred in October during a dedication for the new Adelbert College buildings in Cleveland, rather than at a specific commencement ceremony.
The Case School of Applied Science held its first commencement exercises in 1885, when five graduates were honored.
Check back on Tuesdays throughout May to learn more about other historical commencement stories.