Graduation events rapidly approach

Amber Matha, Staff writer

Graduation is 18 days away, and seniors have a lot of events lined up to keep them busy for the next two and a half weeks.

Cap and gowns are available for pickup starting May 4. The Senior Dinner Dance is also being hosted that evening at the Bayfront Convention Center. Doors open for the event at 5 p.m., and dinner is served at 6:30 p.m.

The next event seniors can partake in is the Spring Bar Crawl, hosted by the Senior Class Gift Committee on May 5. The event starts at the Cornerstone and hits some of the best bars downtown. Seniors can unwind before finals by attending the bar crawl.

On May 11, the presentation of the senior class gift to President Michael T. Victor and the university will take place at 2 p.m. in the Mercy Heritage Room. All are welcome to attend.

Lindsay Frank, director of Alumni Engagement and adviser of the Senior Class Gift Committee, said she is pleased with the efforts of the committee this year.

“While the final totals will not be announced until the presentation, I can say that the committee is thrilled to have surpassed their goals of $12,000 and 60 percent class participation,” said Frank. “It says a lot about the Class of 2018 that they rallied behind the idea of a scholarship for their class gift. They truly believe in paying it forward.”

Seniors who have donated $100 or more to the senior class gift are invited to attend the check presentation event. At this event, the top donors will be given their philanthropy cords to wear at graduation.

The New Alumni Welcome Reception will take place on May 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Student Union Great Room. Seniors are invited to attend the event and are allowed to invite up to two guests.

“This is the very first alumni event that our graduating students will attend,” Frank said. “It’s really their first look into what it means to be alumni — while your four years may have gone by quickly, you’re alumni forever and we hope you will always remain connected.”

The idea behind this reception is to celebrate their time at Mercyhurst and to welcome the students as alumni.

“At the reception, in addition to food and drink, we will also have gifts for each graduating student presented by the Mercyhurst University Alumni Association and Mercyhurst Student Government,” Frank said.

All of these events culminate in the Commencement Ceremony, which will take place on May 13 at 2 p.m. at the Erie Insurance Arena in downtown Erie.

Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. and seniors must be there by 1 p.m. to line up.

As the semester comes to a close, seniors will be kept busy with a variety of events.

Congratulations, Class of 2018!