Spring Commencement 2021

2021 Commencement

IN THE 1942 BETTE DAVIS FILM “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” Jimmy Durante famously sings “Did you ever have the feeling that you wanted to go when you still had the feeling that you wanted to stay?” This often sums up the feelings of many college seniors who are yearning for life’s next chapter, but still want to hold on just a bit longer to their college days.

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Westminster’s seniors—the Class of 2021—clearly were experiencing that bittersweet conflict at dual commencement ceremonies on May 8. Hugs and tearful goodbyes to classmates, professors and friends were plentiful. But after spending an entire year in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, the day also came with a sense of relief and readiness to leave the past behind. The 2020-2021 academic year was an exhausting one.

“I don’t think any of us anticipated that we would face challenges because of a global pandemic,” President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson told the nearly 300 graduating students during the 167th spring commencement exercises. “Yet, in spite of that challenge, we faculty and staff have had the great joy of watching you grow in knowledge, leadership and service. You have offered your best—day after day after day.”

Anna Richards ’72, past president of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro (N.C.) branch of the NAACP, earned an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during the day’s first ceremony (see page 26 for more on Richards).

Richards recounted her experiences as a Black undergraduate at Westminster in the 1960s and 1970s and highlighted the challenges she and the nation have faced since. She reminded students that life is not without challenge and tragedy, and their responses will be key.

“You’ve already shown your ability to be tenacious, strong and creative,” Richards said. “The question I have for you today is this: How will you go forward? How will you choose to make a difference in a world always on the edge of disaster or greatness?”

Alec Rich, an accounting major who graduated summa cum laude, served as senior class speaker and urged his classmates to seek shared experiences in life.

A total of 241 bachelor’s degrees were conferred on 240 students—one student receiving both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science degree. This year also marked the graduation of Westminster’s first class of nursing students, with 10 earning their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. The students received their registered nursing licenses in 2020 (see center photo below).

An additional 38 students earned master’s degrees—24 Master of Education degrees, seven Master of Arts degrees in clinical mental health counseling and eight Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees. Like nursing, this marked the first cohort of students seeking MBA degrees.

Above center: Senior class speaker Alec Rich. // At right, second from top: President Richardson with Anna Richards '72. // Below, the College's first class of nursing students.