Commencement: Then and Now

Before the confetti canons, selfies with the president or even the idea of livestreaming, Stanislaus State's Commencement ceremonies were more stoic. From the character of the ceremonies and speakers to the locations where they have been held, much has changed in the more than 60 years of the University conferring diplomas.

Graduates receive diplomas at the first commencement held in 1961 at the Turlock High School Auditorium.

The first ceremony, in 1961, was held at the Turlock High School auditorium, but as Stan State has grown, so has the production and size of the ceremonies.

There were only two small Commencement ceremonies in 1961 compared to the four large celebrations held now.

The first Commencement of the University was held in January 1961 with only 25 graduates and the second in June with 62 graduates. Before President J. Burton Vasché's untimely death in 1962, he awarded Kenneth Williams with the first Vasché Award.

At age 24, Williams was one of the four student speakers at the June 1962 Commencement. Now 86, he remembers it well.

"It was a lot smaller than the current ceremonies, and the amount of support from the faculty and staff was amazing to see and be a part of," he said. "I was very honored to receive the Vasché Award, and I'd say it did a lot for me and my motivation to stay in education."

Williams taught at Walter White Junior High School in Ceres and then high school journalism for 48 years. He is a big believer in higher education and taught that throughout his years as a teacher.

"Stan State was a big part of my life and put me on the track to my success. I am grateful for my time spent there and hope the best for our current Stan State Warriors."

-Kenneth Williams, 1962 Vasché Recipient

Commencement is far more than a celebratory ceremony; for many, it's a transformative milestone. The event marks the hard work that has gone into earning a college education, which has the potential to positively impact students' lives, reshape their families' futures and serve as a catalyst for generational change. As Williams expressed, educational achievement can open the door to economic opportunity, paving the way for lasting prosperity for future generations.

One noticeable difference between some of the first graduating classes and graduates now is their average age. Many students then followed what might now be considered an untraditional path.

"Back in 1961, most of the professors teaching here were in their early 30s, while their students were not much younger," said Mary Weppler, a Library faculty member who oversees the University Archives. "The average age of the first class was 28 years old."

Unlike today, when many students go directly to college shortly after high school or community college, it was common at that time for students to start later.

Weppler said it might have been because they were waiting for Stan State to open or decided to return to school after a few years of working. Regardless of their reason, she sees it as noteworthy.

"It's inspiring for current students that are older," Weppler said. "There's no time like now to invest in your education."

Graduates march during the first Commencement held on the new Stanislaus State College campus in 1965.

After leaving the Stanislaus Fairgrounds for its current location in 1965, Stan State held its first Commencement in the Library - one of the original buildings at the new campus. As enrollment increased and the ceremonies grew, they eventually moved to the outdoor University Amphitheater. The number of days needed to conduct the ceremonies also expanded; in the 21st century, so has technology.

Jennifer Humphrey, assistant vice president for operations in the Division of Student Affairs, is the chair of the Commencement Committee. She collaborates with individuals from across the University year-round to prepare for the ceremonies. The extensive planning includes about 25 committee members representing individual University areas.

To provide an inclusive experience that broadens access, Commencement planning and communications have incorporated video content, text messaging, web content and social media messages to help inform and celebrate graduates.

"We aim to provide as much detail and preparation as possible for our graduates and their families, friends and supporters to all come together to celebrate this remarkable accomplishment," Humphrey said.

The Class of 2024 will celebrate more than 3,000 graduates earning bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees and teaching credentials. With more than 2,000 graduates signed up to participate in Commencement exercises and 20,000 guests registered to attend across the four ceremonies, Humphrey said the staff in Capital Planning and Facilities Management are what she would consider the "unsung heroes" of making the Commencement ceremonies possible.

The Capital Planning and Facilities Management team prepares for the 2022 Commencement ceremonies.

"They start preparing the campus grounds weeks in advance," she said. "They help with the preparation of signage, loading the chairs and making sure all the facilities are prepared and ready to go."

Being such an important milestone, the committee strives to provide a thoughtful and inclusive experience.

Media Production Specialist Jerome Anderson has been helping to produce the video recordings at Commencement since 2007. He and his team have been instrumental in bringing Stan State's video coverage of the ceremonies into the 21st century by broadcasting the ceremony to indoor viewing spaces as well as providing livestreaming and webcasting options for those who are not able to attend the ceremonies in person. Anderson first saw the potential to reach more people through a live video stream and started exploring ways to make that happen.

"I went out to the auditorium with a single camera, set it up in the middle, ran a long coaxial cable to the Music Building, which then took it down to the Theater where we had a fiber that went to the Library and came back over to our current building, and we were able to send it out live on Channel 2 on Charter or online to MediaSite," Anderson explained. "It was a lot of work, but I wanted to see if we could do it. And we did."

Behind the scenes of the Commencement livestream with the media team.

Over time, the media production team has grown with additional switchboards, cameras and other equipment. Students have also joined the team to gain hands-on experience operating cameras and switchboards and even assisting with the production's direction.

This year's ceremonies will feature something Anderson is excited to implement that will further Stan State's dedication to inclusion and equity by broadening accessibility.

"Spanish interpretations during our live feed will be something we've never had before, but I think they will be a great addition to our service," Anderson said.

The ceremony will differ from the one where Williams spoke, but his hopes and advice for Stan State students remain the same.

"Get involved on campus and make friends," he said. "Make those connections now and put in the work. It'll be worth it in the long run. Stan State has a lot to offer. Trust me."

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