Baccalaureate Ceremony

Baccalaureate Ceremony

The Baccalaureate Ceremony, scheduled for Friday, May 12 at 5:30 p.m. is planned and performed by members of the Senior Class, and offers a quieter, more intimate opportunity to pause and reflect on this important life event. The program includes a special guest speaker (selected by the Baccalaureate Committee), fellow seniors sharing their reflections of their experience during their time at WPI, and students' musical and dance talents.

As this is a wonderful event celebrating our student's achievements, all WPI graduating students and their parents and guests, whether undergraduate or graduate, are expected to attend.

 

Logistics

It is the last time for the senior class to be together as a class before their graduation.

Taking place on Friday, May 12 at 5:30 p.m. under the tent on the Quad, tickets are not required for this program, and all friends and family members are invited to attend. 

The event will be live-streamed here

Below are the musical performers and speakers from the 2023 Baccalaureate Program. 

 

Baccalaureate student solo performer - guitar and vocals

Brianna Ankstitus

BS Industrial Engineering and MS Management
Brianna Ankstitus
Baccalaureate Musical Performers

Senior A Cappella Group

 

Accapella Group 2023

Priscilla Anand, Brianna Ankstitus, Adam Bartlett, Sophia Cheng, Ryan Dieselman, Margaret Earnest, John Gabelmann, Ben Gobler, Calum Lehrach, Matt Liliedahl, John Matthews, Alana Miska, Jacob Morse, Adam Saar, Matt Shea, Charlie Snow, Sophie Strano, Katie Stratton, John Winship, Julianna Ziegler

 

2023 Baccalaureate Speaker

Elitumaini Swai

BS Chemical Engineering, MS Business Management

Elitumaini Swai
2023 Baccalaureate Speaker

Claire Behning

BS Biology and Biotechnology, and Psychology

Claire Behning

Guest Speaker: Paul Dagle '82

Paul Dagle in a button down shirt posing by a painting
Co-founder, The Brian Dagle Foundation and Brian’s Healing Hearts Center for Hope and Healing

 

Paul Dagle recently retired from Electric Boat Corporation in Groton after 40 years. His last position was Director of Facilities and Construction Support. Previously, he served as the Director of Radiological Services responsible for ensuring that all nuclear work performed at Electric Boat and Submarine Base New London met the radiological control requirements of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.

Dagle is a dedicated and passionate community member. His community service activities have included youth baseball, football, and basketball; East Lyme Planning Commission and Board of Assessment Appeals (2 years as Chair) and 5-year member of the East Lyme Board of Selectman; East Lyme HS Football Coach; and current Chair of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Board of Directors.

Dagle graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He and his wife, Ann, have been married for more than 40 years; their family includes sons Matthew and Andrew; Andrew’s wife, Nicole, and children, Emerson and Callan. Their son Brian passed away in 2011.

 

Class of 2023 Baccalaureate Committee

Tatyana Barthold, Chair

BS Biomedical Engineering

Tatyana Barthold

Dreya Martin, Co-chair

Kim Wykes, Advisor

 

Class of 2023 Board of Directors

Dreya Martin, Chair

Tatyana Barthold

Maya Ellis

Samantha Havel

Emily Jorden

Troy Mullenberg

Emmanuel Ola

Eda Raycraft

Blaise Schroeder

Isadora Sorpol 

 

 

Photography from Past Baccalaureate Ceremonies

singing baccalaureate 23
baccalaureate chair
a cappella group bacc
Eli swap speaking at podium

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