DePauw commencement slated for Sunday morning

DePauw University will conduct its commencement exercises on Sunday, with almost 500 graduates set to receive their diplomas.

Photo by Kyle Hollinger

Nearly 500 students will walk across the stage Sunday morning, completing their DePauw University journey as gradates of the class of 2019.

Commencement ceremonies are set for 10 a.m. in Holton Memorial Quadrangle on the Greencastle campus.

Drew Powell, an actor and 1998 DePauw graduate who is best known for four seasons as a character on Fox’s hit series “Gotham,” will provide the primary address to his alma mater’s class of 2019.

Powell will also receive the University Arts Medal during the program.

Honorary doctoral degrees will be awarded to three individuals — Iraqi American artist and educator Wafaa Bilal; historian, author and professor Ann G. Carmichael; and noted jazz trumpeter Eddie Henderson.

Formal services for the weekend will actually kick off Saturday with the baccalaureate service set for 4 p.m. at Kresge Auditorium in the Green Center for the Performing Arts. Overflow guests may watch the ceremony on a live broadcast in Moore Theatre and Thompson Recital Hall, also in the Green Center.

Featured at this event are two addresses, one from University President D. Mark McCoy and one from the faculty speaker, readings from the writing of DePauw alumni, prayers from various religious traditions and celebratory music from the School of Music.

On Tuesday, crews began the process of transforming the entry to Roy O. West Library into a platform for Sunday’s program.

Of course, with an 80-percent chance of thunderstorms in the forecast, university officials are also prepared to move the program inside to the Lilly Recreation Center’s Neal Fieldhouse. Temperatures on Sunday are projected to reach the mid-70s.