"Senior Salute" provides "one-stop out-processing" for soon-to-be grads

With their May 11 commencement date looming, nearly 300 Norwich seniors paid a long-awaited visit to Milano ballroom last week to participate in the fifth annual "Senior Salute." As in past years, these "soon-to-be" graduates of the Class of '03 took advantage of executing a litany of administrative details in one convenient location.

For the better part of two days, personnel representing the provost, bursar, bookstore, career development center, alumni office and other branches of the university, staffed tables where students could complete paperwork, both optional and necessary, prior to graduation.

Signs festooned with maroon and gold balloons directed students to various checkpoints around the room, entreating them to double check the information on their diploma, arrange for payment of their student loans, order a cap and gown, or have their senior picture taken for the War Whoop as a final make up. Complimentary snacks and beverages were provided by Sodexho Campus Services.

In addition, students were given the opportunity to order graduation announcements, inquire about summer internships through the Career Development Center, request information about Norwich's graduate programs, or provide contact information to the Norwich Alumni Association.

"It was Jostens ring company that gave Ted Smith '58 the Senior Salute idea before Ted retired from Norwich," said Alumni Relations Officer Bill Passalacqua '88, who has organized the event three years running. "We both thought it was a smart, convenient venue for seniors to out-process and for various departments and for vendors to capture as many seniors as possible in two days. Seniors have enough on their plates without having to run all over campus, taking care of graduation requirements," Passalacqua added.

Before heading back to class, each senior received a sharp-looking burnished brass business-card holder emblazoned with the Norwich crest. The entire process, which took most seniors twenty-thirty minutes to complete, ended with an opportunity to enter a raffle drawing for some great prizes donated by various vendors represented.

"The inaugural event turned out to be a huge success, and we have improved on it every year since," said Passalacqua. "This year we had an excellent participation rate - 89 percent - and our target is to reach the 95th percentile in 2004. It's a 'win-win' event."

dweggler@norwich.edu, March 2003

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