#UWECgrad — A look at the year’s biggest party

A fresh blanket of white welcomed visitors to Wisconsin’s most beautiful campus and made the golden tassels and bright futures of UWEC’s newest alums really pop. While the weather threatened to dampen the mood, nothing could stop Blugolds and their loved ones from filling Zorn Arena to celebrate the centennial class.

Brass and cheers blended in perfect harmony as the 849 grads made their entrance for the big day.

Mitch Freymiller, Chair of the University Senate, brought in the ceremonial university mace to signal the official start of the party of the year. Provost Kleine then took her turn on the stage to share sentiments about the newest group of Blugold alumni and their predecessors.

A brief overview of the past 100 years at UW-Eau Claire was given by Chancellor Jim Schmidt that included highlights such as,

“One hundred years ago, my predecessor, Harvey A. Schofield, stood in front of our first graduating class. There were no selfies taken that day, no Twitter feeds across the screen over the stage in Schofield Hall. Nobody was called a Blugold (that wouldn’t happen until 1935). It was such a different time when our university began, a hundred years ago.”

Joe Webb, Jr., Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award winner, shared his journey of perseverance and inspired the 2016 grads during the charge to the class.

“I believe that the success of life is determined by where you end, not where you start.”

The moment everyone weathered the storm for was finally here:

Cue the cheers and diplomas!

With full hearts and the official proof of a full mind now in hand, graduates Dylan Lange and Danielle Graf talked to their fellow alums about change, Finding Nemo and the Power of AND.

Allison Peanasky and Austin Cladie closed out the ceremony by providing one last ode to UW-Eau Claire through rousing renditions of Alma Mater.

Congrats centennial class. We are so proud of you!