Baldwin Wallace University's 175th Commencement rolled out the pomp and pageantry to celebrate the BW Class of 2025 on Saturday, May 10.
Some 665 graduates earning bachelor's and master's degrees took a walk across the stage to collect their diploma cases and turn their tassels, to the applause of faculty, family, friends and other dignitaries packed into the Lou Higgins Recreation Center's Ursprung Gymnasium.
BW President-designate Lee Fisher delivered an inspiring keynote address. After forging a remarkable career spanning the public, private, nonprofit and academic sectors, the former Ohio Lt. Governor and Dean of the Cleveland State University Law School will take over as President of BW on July 1.
Fisher, who was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree following his address, based his advice to the graduates on BW's initials.
Weaving in moving personal stories and moments from time already spent at BW, Fisher said, "BW means be who you are. BW means get better at who you are. And, BW means do all you can do whenever and wherever you can to make this a better world. The world needs you now more than ever."
While each BW graduate represents a distinctive piece of the ongoing alumni story, the 175th Commencement Ceremony was dedicated to the memory of Rev. James Lawson '51, a prominent civil rights leader and nonviolent activist who passed away on June 9, 2024, at the age of 95.
This Commencement also marked the first four-year nursing students to graduate since BW added a Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) degree program to its Accelerated BSN four years ago.
Nearly every graduation weekend also brings legacy families back to BW. This year, Darlynda "Dar" Marlink '95 returned with a distinctive memory.
"Thirty years ago this coming May, I was privileged to graduate from BW with my twin daughters, Kerilyn and Kelianne," Marlink recalled. "President [Neal] Malicky was so kind to recognize our accomplishment during the 1995 commencement ceremonies as a first for BW — a mom and twins graduating together — and I cherish that memory of him."
At this ceremony, Marlink proudly celebrated her granddaughter, Meredith Chervenak '25, graduating with honors as the third generation of the family to become a "Yellow Jacket for Life."
Special recognition for high-achieving members of the Class of 2025 included the prestigious Milton T. Baldwin Prize, established in 1859 and given to the graduate with the highest academic achievement at BW.
This year's award went to Derek K. Schraufstetter, who graduated summa cum laude with both a Bachelor of Music (BM) and a Bachelor of Music Education (BME). This spring, he was one of ONLY two bassoonists in the nation selected to participate in the prestigious New York String Orchestra Seminar at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
A number of factors go into choosing the winner, in addition to grade point average. In fact, there were 22 students who also earned a perfect 4.0 GPA and 87 graduated summa cum laude, the highest Latin honors representing a cumulative GPA of 3.90 or higher. Another 80 students graduated magna cum laude with at least a 3.75, while 65 earned cum laude honors with at least a 3.60 GPA.
Some 58 students were recognized as members of the elite Dayton C. Miller Honor Society, while 17 students who completed the enhanced BW Honors Program curriculum stood to be applauded.
Ten graduates were recognized as "2025 Outstanding Seniors" for overall excellence and contributions to campus life, including academics, leadership, service and involvement on and off campus.
The 2025 graduating seniors acknowledged for demonstrating excellence in all areas of their University endeavors are: Daisjah Brown, Claire Fischer, Malorie Glancy, Alek Johnson, Caely Ressler, Ursula Saadeh, Sean Summers, Ruby Thomas, Justin Verhosek and Jenna Whaley.
Senior Class Vice President Amaree Horne '25 also came forward to add the class colors onto the ring of ribbons, a BW tradition since 1915, and led fellow graduates in an "Aww Jackets" cheer.
BW Commencement Day also included a Baccalaureate service that featured special music by students and an inspiring address on the theme of "Courage and the Process of Becoming" by speech-language pathology professor Chisomo Selemani.
Baccalaureate was followed by the President's Reception in the Strosacker Hall union ballroom, where all graduating seniors and their families, faculty and staff were invited to mix and mingle, snap photos and enjoy appetizers and desserts.
In another longstanding graduation day custom, the White Rose Ceremony recognized a select group of 27 young women while honoring Philura Gould Baldwin, granddaughter of BW founder John Baldwin. She helped establish the BW library and the University's brown and gold colors.
Congratulations to the Class of 2025 graduates who now take their places among 50,000-plus BW graduates or "Yellow Jackets for Life" (YJ4L) who have come before them since the school's founding in 1845.
To watch a video stream replay of the entire ceremony, visit bw.edu/commencement.
To view additional photos of the ceremony, check out the gallery below and visit BW's social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook.
