As Seniors prepare for their graduation, they are excited to celebrate their final time at Episcopal with the dedicated teachers and faculty that have and continue to support and encourage them throughout their years here. However, with the graduating class size being the largest in Episcopal’s history, there are concerns that the chapel will be unable to fit the faculty along with the families of each graduating senior. While we recognize the concern of fitting everyone in the chapel, we feel that the faculty are an integral part of the Episcopal Academy experience and need to be present at graduation.
In recent history, the faculty has been present at all senior graduations. It has been mandatory for Upper School faculty to be present at graduation, while Middle and Lower School faculty have the option of being present at graduation. Episcopal Alumni have spoken towards the value of having faculty present at their graduations. Recent graduate Abby Baggini ‘18 spoke to the importance of faculty at her graduation, she says, “The faculty were such a huge part of my Episcopal experience. For many graduates, the faculty become friends, confidants, and some of their biggest role models. It would have felt wrong to not have them there with us at graduation.”
Current Episcopal students advocate for faculty to be present at the graduation ceremony as well. Bryce Nabulsi ‘19, Upper School student body president, recognizes the problem and admits that she, “understands both sides of the issue, with how big our class is and how they can’t fit all of the teachers in the chapel.” However, she speaks towards the importance of faculty being present as she says, “But some of my teachers have been so influential on me that I would love for them to see me graduate. Graduation is a big deal and it feels like a tradition is being lost without the faculty there.” Grace Reilly ‘19 speaks to the importance of faculty during her EA experience. She remarks, “Graduation is just as much about the faculty as it is for us. No one in the senior class would be who they are or where they are today without the support and dedication of our faculty.” Reilly continued saying “it would not feel right without the people who have impacted us the most.”
While all faculty may not feel the same about attending graduation, certain faculty love attending graduation. Leslie Trimble, Upper School Science teacher and advisor, echoes this saying, “I personally love going to graduation. Particularly because I have many senior advisees. It feels really good to me to see the last official thing that these kids do at Episcopal.”
There are possible solutions to this issue that can be proposed in order to fit this need for the students. We can, potentially, conduct the graduation outside allowing us to fit more people in attendance. If the weather is an issue, then a tent can be issued for the day the same way it has been done before for certain outdoor events. Additionally, we could potentially give out fewer tickets to students’ family members and have these family members watch through the live stream in the theatre. These specific ideas do not need to be used but there is one thing for sure: we need faculty at our graduation.