Commencement Day 2018: Schedule of events

Above, last year’s graduating Class of 2017 poses for its senior photo.

Congratulations to the Class of 2018! Keep reading for a comprehensive look at Commencement Weekend. Commencement information is also available on the graduation page on the Westminster website. If you are unable to attend, commencement will be live-streamed here.

Friday, May 11

5 to 6:30 p.m.: Senior class and family reception
Backer Dining Room, Mueller Leadership Hall
Fletch and Cindy Lamkin are excited to host graduating seniors, their families, faculty, and staff to kick off Commencement Weekend. Heavy hors-d’oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available. Business casual dress. Please RSVP here.

Saturday, May 12

8:30 a.m.: Alpha Chi induction
Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury
Alpha Chi participants report to the Museum undercroft at 8 a.m. to robe.

9:30 a.m.: Alpha Chi reception
Undercroft of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury

10:30 a.m.: Baccalaureate
First Presbyterian Church, 718 Court Street
Baccalaureate sermon: Rev. Erin Counihan

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Commencement Luncheon
Mueller Leadership Hall, Backer Dining Room & Mueller Student Center
Buffet luncheon, $10 for adults and $7 for children under the age of 10. Graduating seniors, faculty and staff eat for free. Eat any time between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Please purchase lunch tickets here. 

1 p.m.: Senior class picture & processional assembly
Westminster Hall
Seniors should report fully robed and will receive final instructions as well as processional order and seating cards following the class picture. Seniors will be given information as directed by Skulls of Seven. 

2 p.m.: Commencement processional & ceremony
Champ Auditorium, doors open at 1 p.m.
Simulcast in the Coulter Science Center Lecture Hall and various classrooms in Coulter Science Center.
Commencement address: Dr. Fletcher M. Lamkin, President of Westminster College

Following commencement: Columns ceremony
The Columns
Graduates will recess through the Columns following the commencement ceremony.

Dr. Fletch M. Lamkin, President of Westminster College, will give the address during the commencement ceremony May 12.

President Lamkin returned to Westminster College in July 2017 to be its 22nd president with record accomplishments from his last three presidencies. His leadership goals include boosting enrollment and retention, establishing strong connections with alumni and building a private college business model that will take Westminster to new heights of success. 

During President Lamkin’s previous tenure at Westminster from 2000 to 2007, the College enjoyed record fundraising and enrollment and a significant improvement in campus and facilities. Westminster experienced record growth for four straight years and successfully completed a capital campaign that raised $80 million — a record for private colleges of Westminster’s size in Missouri at that time. Endowed chairs and scholarships continually increased, and the campus was physically transformed with the addition of important new facilities and the renovation of the National Churchill Museum into a state-of-the-art exhibition. Alumni giving rose from 18 percent to almost 40 percent, placing Westminster in the top 60 nationally for alumni giving for colleges of its size.

President Lamkin saw a successful presidency at West Virginia University at Parkersburg, where he instituted successful new programs that boosted enrollment and enabled the first faculty pay raises in years. Previously, he served as President of Kansas Wesleyan University. 

He has served as Dean of the Academic Board of West Point, where he tripled the number of civilian faculty, quadrupled externally funded research, and enhanced the Academy’s connection to the academic community while playing a major fundraising role. While at West Point, he served as a department head and as Vice Dean prior to becoming West Point’s 10th Dean. He retired from the Army as a Brigadier General to become President of Westminster in 2000. 

President Lamkin holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy, a Master of Science degree in engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, a Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies from Salve Regina College and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Washington. 

He is married to Cindy Dunstan Lamkin, an accomplished musician and professor with extensive experience in academe, having built and directed music programs in higher education for more than 20 years.