Commencement Program

Saturday, the sixth of May Two thousand twenty three Eleven o’clock in the morning Banner Elk, North Carolina

Mr. Gordon Warburton

Invocation Rev. Ted Henry Chaplain

Welcome Mr. Parker Grubbs ’95 Chair, Board of Trustees

Musical Selection .................................. "Louder Than Words" by Jonathan Larson

The Highlanders

Dr. Michael Hannah, Director

Remarks

Dr. Herbert L. King Jr. President

Presentation of H.C. Evans Jr. Fidelity Awards Dr. King

Remarks and Presentation of Candidates for Degrees Dr. Alyson Gill Provost

Conferral of Degrees ........................................................................................... Dr. King

Family and friends are asked to stand when their graduate crosses the stage, a long-standing tradition at Lees-McRae College.

Remarks

Ms. Raygan Rensing ’23 Student Body President and Graduate

Ms. Makayla Gaitan ’23 Online and Distance Learning Graduate

Ms. Talia Freeman ’07 President, Alumni Board College Hymn* “Assurance”

Induction to Alumni Association

Benediction* Dr. King

Recessional*

Mr. Warburton

Out of respect for the graduating class, guests are asked to remain in place until the last graduate exits the seating area.

*All who are able, please stand. Marshals provided by Order of the Tower.

Academic Regalia

The traditions of academic dress began in the Middle Ages when learned masters adopted the garb of monks and clerics to designate various levels of academic achievement.

The bachelor's gown is closed and untrimmed, with pointed sleeves. Short hoods may or may not be worn with bachelor's gowns, at the discretion of the institution awarding the degree. Caps are square mortarboards with a tassel.

The master's gown is usually black and may be open or closed in the front. The gown has long, closed, arc-shaped sleeves which extend past the wearer’s hands. The velvet front panel on the hood indicates the wearer’s academic discipline. The hood is lined with the official colors of the institution that granted the degree. The cap is usually the traditional mortarboard.

The doctoral gown is often black, but may be other colors. The doctoral gown is trimmed with velvet panels down the front and across the bell-shaped sleeves. The cap is usually a six- or eight-sided velvet tam, and the tassel is gold. The velvet banding indicates the academic discipline of the earned degree, and the hood is lined in the colors of the institution granting the degree.

Symbols of Distinction

Summa Cum Laude Green and Gold Braided Cords

Magna Cum Laude Green Cords

Cum Laude White Cords

Alpha Chi (Academic Honor Society)

Golden Medallions on Sapphire and Emerald Ribbons

Alpha Psi Omega (Theatre Honor Fraternity)

Light Blue and Gold Cords

Alpha Psi Sigma (Academic Honor Society) Gold and Blue Cords

Burton Center for Student Success Peer Tutor Silver Cords

Chi Alpha Sigma (National Athletics Honor Society)

Bronze Medallion on Black Ribbons

Nu Delta Alpha (Dance Honor Society)

Burgundy and Gold Cords

Omicron Delta Kappa (Leadership Honor Society)

Black, Light Blue, and White Cords

Pi Lambda Theta (Education Honor Society) Gold Cords

Sigma Beta Delta (Business Honor Society)

Yellow and Green Cords

Student-Athletes White Stoles