On the road to Commencement
All roads will eventually lead to class for these Norwich University students, perhaps in the warmer fall weather, to outdoor learning spaces, as happened last week with some nursing students. One day, all academic careers for Norwich’s many cohorts, civilian and Corps, will lead to Commencement.
On Saturday, President Emeritus Richard W. Schneider will deliver the keynote address for the virtual Commencement, which was postponed from its usual May time slot by the coronavirus pandemic. The 2 p.m. event will be virtual because of Vermont Health Department coronavirus guidelines barring large gatherings.
The event will be streamed live on norwich.edu/commencement.
During the virtual Commencement, Schneider will join new President Mark C. Anarumo in conferring honorary degrees and will join Provost Sandra Affenito in conferring traditional degrees. Anarumo will deliver opening and closing remarks and the Rev. William Wick will deliver the benediction.
Honorary doctorates will go to David N. Magida (honorary Doctor of Construction Management), Joel Kobert ’65 (honorary Doctor of Laws), Douglas M. McCracken ’70 (honorary Doctor of Business Administration) and to Schneider himself (honorary Doctor of Higher Education Administration).
Schneider has numerous accomplishments as Norwich University’s 23rd president. He oversaw multimillion-dollar fundraising campaigns that allowed makeovers of existing campus buildings and the addition of new ones. He boosted the university’s endowment fivefold, oversaw increases in enrollment (up more than 62%), expanded academic majors and course offerings and championed undergraduate research programs and study away and abroad programs.
Schneider also led an expansion of the Corps of Cadets (up more than 60%) and the establishment of the online College of Graduate and Continuing Studies. His Norwich After Next plan has the university poised to prosper for years to come.
To coincide with Commencement, the building known as Webb/North Hall will be renamed Schneider Hall. A renaming ceremony will run at 11:45 a.m. Saturday.
Click here to see photographer Mark Collier’s full photo gallery from Friday and the past holiday weekend.
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