St. Lawrence Commencement - Then and Now
The more things change, the more they seem to stay the same--in some cases at least. Commencements from the past look amazingly similar to Commencements today. It's nice to know that tradition and ritual are honored through the years.

Faculty process in order of seniority. Commencement is one of two formal events at which faculty robe in the academic regalia of the institution at which they earned their highest degree. The colors of the lining of academic hoods express the discipline in which the faculty member earned that same degree. Some colleges have distinctive robes and caps, as well.
Today's graduating classes number about 500 students, while past classes have been as small as six in the earliest years, and approximately 200-300 in the mid 20th century.
Student speakers always have been part of Commencement. Today, the president of the senior class and the winner of the Joan Donovan Speech Contest address their classmates.
The late Frank Piskor congratulates a new graduate, left, and President Daniel F. Sullivan'65 does the contemporary honors.
Commencement has been held in Gunnison Chapel, Appleton Arena (shown at left), Weeks Field, and since 1986, the library quadrangle, now Creasy Commencement Commons	Creasy Commencement Commons shows the 3,000+ people who attend Commencement.