Class of 2023 secures place in Hanover history
The Class of 2023 made history during Hanover College’s 190th commencement. For the first time in more than 100 years, Hanover’s graduation ceremony included the conferral of bachelor’s and doctoral degrees during the event.
Hanover’s graduation ceremony was held at the Point for the first time since 2019. Under partly sunny skies with a slight breeze, more than 2,500 guests were on hand for the ceremony, which was also streamed to nearly 500 viewers.
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This year’s graduating class featured 72 members of Hanover’s first cohort of Doctor of Physical Therapy students, marking the College’s first doctoral-level graduates since 1915. The class, representing 28 states, was highlighted by dual-Hanover-degree recipients Lily Beurman Compton ’21, DPT ‘23, Olivia Ellson ’21, DPT ’23, Olivia Hall ‘21, DPT ’23, and Alexandria Combs Wheeler ‘17, DPT ‘23.
“Being the first class is really amazing! We serve as the steppingstones for future classes behind us,” said Compton, who previously earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and exercise science. “Today is very rewarding, knowing that I did accomplish everything that I wanted. I can’t wait to see where everything is going to take me.”
Hanover’s traditional undergraduate class featured 221 students, including 82 who graduated with honors. Twenty-one students achieved high honors (magna cum laude) and 21 completed their degrees with highest honors (summa cum laude). Thirty-three members of the group had multiple majors and 20 students earned a Bachelor of Science degree. The class also included 23 legacy students who have joined immediate relatives as Hanoverians.
Andi Spring ’23, a gender studies major from Louisville, Ky., represented the Class of 2023 as senior speaker.
“The past four years have been anything but easy. And yet here we are, together, despite the cliche of that statement,” said Spring while reflecting on challenges during their time on campus. “Even more remarkable, though, is that very, very soon, we won’t be here anymore. We will move away and begin our lives and nothing will be the same as it was. And yet on the curve of the river, there will still sit the place that changed our lives, remembering us just as we remember it, with fondness.”
Hanover President Lake Lambert delivered the commencement address. During the speech, he contemplated motives behind each individual’s dreams and aspirations, while encouraging graduates to continue the pursuit of wisdom.
“Whatever your dream is today, my hope is that you will also dream and seek after wisdom,” said Lambert. “We can become so confident in what we know that we stop asking questions. Our abundant knowledge can convince us that we are wise and have nothing else to learn.”
He continued, “I hope your Hanover education ruined simplicity for you. My education made it almost impossible for me to take something at face value. It made almost everything I encounter a possible subject for further inquiry, for investigation. Yet, I am not immune from simplistic thinking, from thinking I know all of the answers. True wisdom can be fleeting and must always be sought and dreamed of.”
Lambert closed his remarks, stating, “On behalf of the trustees, faculty and staff of Hanover College, this was our dream when you joined our community and this is our dream as you prepare to graduate and leave us today. And may our dreams and yours come true!”
In addition to the conferral of doctoral and bachelor’s degrees, Hanover’s 2023 commencement included acknowledgement of five retiring faculty members and the College’s top senior award recipients.
Carey Adams, provost and vice president for academic affairs, recognized five retiring faculty members with more than 130 combined years of service to the College’s students. Retirees included Michael Duffy, professor of theological studies (1995-2023), Rob Graham, professor of economics (1991-2023), Molly Totten Jones ’86, instructor of health and fitness (1998-2023), Yefim Katsov, professor of mathematics (1992-2023) and Nasrin Shahinpoor, professor of economics (2005-2023).
Lambert acknowledged Allison Andrews ’23, Rio Takagi ’23, Raechel Long ’23 and Wyatt Warner ’23. Each student received one of Hanover’s highest awards during the College’s 86th-annual Honors Convocation April 13. Andrews earned the Henry C. Long Citation for Scholarship and General Excellence. Takagi was presented with the John Finley Crowe Citation for Scholarship and General Excellence. Long and Warner each received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, which recognizes outstanding service to the campus community and the community at large.
Following the conferral of degrees, Sarah Vogt ‘07 welcomed graduates into the Hanover College Alumni Association. Vogt serves as president of the College’s Alumni Leadership Council.
During her remarks, Vogt stated, “While no two experiences are exactly the same, the spirit of Hanover binds us together. Wherever you go, you are destined to meet a Hanoverian along the way, and I guarantee you will find things that you have in common – no matter how many years apart you are.“
The Hanover College Choir and Hanover College Band performed selections throughout the ceremony. Both ensembles were joined by members of the faculty and local community.
The Hanover College Choir performed Steven Schwartz’s “When You Believe” and “Irish Blessing,” by Chester Alwes ’69. The vocalists, under the direction of Madlen Batchvarova, professor of music, also led the traditional singing of Meredith Willson’s “The Alma Mater.”
The Hanover College Band performed Charpentier’s “Te Deum Prelude,” along with processional and recessional works by Elgar. The instrumentalists were directed by Jonathan Stanley, assistant professor of music.
Rev. Catherine Y.E. Knott, Ball Family Chaplain, performed the benediction and invocation. Marshals for commencement activities included faculty members Ann Kirkland, professor of French, Dan Murphy ‘77, professor of history, and Bill Tereshko, professor of kinesiology and integrated physiology.
