Commencement

When you think about the differences between the lives of the students attending Westminster in the spring of 1973 and those graduating in May of 2023,the contrasts are stark. Students in 1973 couldn’t conceive of having a computer in their home, much less carrying one in their hand. The average cost of a gallon of gas was only 39 cents, compared to $3.99 today.

Think too, of the jobs that today’s students find themselves preparing for that didn’t even exist when Westminster began,like web analyst, app developer, genetic counselor, and cyber security specialist.

Nonetheless, this year’s graduating class still had much in common with students from 1973. The students were full of joy and gratitude, hope and excitement. They came from families who had sought a place of belonging that would instill more than just the knowledge that books, classrooms, and science labs could provide.

The class of 2023 held dreamers and seekers, athletes and scholars, artists and actors, though none were confined to just that role. Some had been together