Graduating students celebrated their college achievements and reflected on their time at Emory during Baccalaureate ceremonies — a beloved Commencement tradition rooted in spiritual life that is held on both the Oxford College and Atlanta campuses.
Atlanta campus Baccalaureate
The Atlanta campus service held Friday, May 9, in Cannon Chapel, was hosted by the Office of Spiritual and Religious Life, which also provided lunch for graduates and their families. The ceremony recognized 26 student leaders who contributed to spiritual life at Emory — from serving as peer mentors in the Welcoming Interfaith and Spiritual Exploration (WISE) pre-orientation program to serving on the Inter-Religious Council.
“We pray that the ceremony helped to build a lasting connection between our office and these student leaders as they become alumni,” says the Rev. Gregory McGonigle, Emory university chaplain and dean of religious life. “We will continue to follow their journeys and appreciate their leadership in the wider world. It’s always a joy to be able to meet the parents and families of our students — and to hear from them how much spiritual life at Emory has enhanced their students’ journeys.”
McGonigle delivered words of welcome during the ceremony, and six Emory chaplaincy staff shared invocations from their religious traditions — which include Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism — before honoring students with awards. Maury Allums, director of music for the Office of Spiritual and Religious Life, performed the gathering and closing melodies on the piano.
Pearl Dowe, senior vice provost for academic affairs, delivered closing remarks and shared her appreciation for students’ commitment to hope, positive change and fostering community.
“It was a really special ceremony, filled with some bittersweet goodbyes and reflections,” says Emily Kuhl, who graduated from Emory in May with a bachelor of science degree in biology.
Kuhl, who is from metro Atlanta, is headed this fall to the University of Toronto for a master’s degree in global affairs.
Throughout her four years at Emory, Kuhl was active in religious life programs and interfaith communities on campus. She received an Interfaith Leadership Award at Baccalaureate for her work as a mentor in the WISE Interfaith pre-orientation program.
“There’s not enough words or time in the day to express how much the religious life staff has had an impact on me and how much joy, compassion and gratitude I carry for them,” she says. “As I go on to study global health, I’m going to think about how to incorporate interfaith and religious work into my own profession — and how we can use spirituality to promote health and create connection in diverse communities.”
Oxford campus Baccalaureate
Oxford College also held its Baccalaureate service on May 9 — at the historic Old Church, less than a mile from campus.
The ceremony included remarks from Molly McGehee, dean of Oxford College, and the Rev. Brent Huckaby, college chaplain. The Oxford Chamber Ensemble and members of Soul Collective — a student group that focuses on African American popular music traditions like soul, funk and R&B — performed for attending students and their families.
As part of his sermon, Huckaby distributed wooden hearts to graduates as a parting memento — and as a reminder to move through the world led by their hearts and the values they learned at Oxford.
Read more about Oxford’s Baccalaureate service.
Oxford College's Baccalaureate service gave students the chance to reflect on how they have reached this point and look ahead to what is next. Photos by Amber Tallent, Oxford Photo/Video.
