MORGANTOWN, W.V.a. – Before WVU sends more than 4,500 graduates into the world this weekend, a Mountaineer Send-Off celebration was open for seniors, graduate and doctoral students.
To commemorate their time at WVU, graduates gathered at the Erickson Alumni Center to decorate their graduation cap, pick up an Alumni Membership Card and find where their local WVU chapter is in their new home after graduation.
WVU faculty and current students hosted booths of different activities for graduates.
Kristi Wood-Turner, director of service and learning, said the transformation from being a college freshman to graduate is incredible.
“To see that polished person at the end leave as an adult, ready to actually join the workforce or join the community-you can’t beat that,” Wood-Turner said. “Going from someone who really comes here lost to somebody who knows where they’re at the end? I love seeing that.”
From the 4,500 graduates, 3,083 will receive undergraduate degrees or certificates, 915 their master’s degrees and 531 have earned their doctorates.
“College is a difficult journey for a lot of people,’ Wood-Turner said. “Even if you go smoothly through, there’s always obstacles, always things that you’re learning and you’re always going.”
Whitney Horton, graduating with Bachelors in biology and psychology, said one thing she will miss about WVU was being able to us all of the Universities resources whenever she needed.
“It was really easy to connect with all of the teachers and from there it helped with grad school,” Horton said. “Get involved in as much as you can, because then it helps you with letters of recommendation.”
WVU faculty and current students honored the soon-to-be graduates with games, food, a photo booth, raffles and live entertainment from DJ Dollar.
Chelsea Boardman, graduating with Bachelors in forensic and business, said the next step after graduation is to apply for as many jobs as she can.
“Start looking at what you wanna do early so that you can cater your college experience to what you want to do outside of college,” said Boardman. ”
WVU May Commencement starts on Thursday and ends on Sunday, May 14. For more information about graduation schedules, visit http://graduation.wvu.edu/may-commencement.