LEXINGTON, Ky.—On Saturday, May 28, Transylvania University sent 270 students into the world—Pioneers who are specially prepared to start their careers or continue their studies at graduate and professional schools.
Lexington Mayor Jim Gray gave the commencement address to the students. Gray’s late mother, Lois Howard Gray, is a 1940 Transylvania graduate and was a member of the Board of Trustees for 22 years.
“We welcome Mayor Jim Gray to campus as an obvious choice for our commencement speaker,” President Seamus Carey said. “Transylvania is an integral part of Lexington, and the city—with its plentiful internships and other opportunities—complements our mission as a top-100 national liberal arts university.”
The class of 2016 received their degrees during the 9 a.m. ceremony in front of the historic Old Morrison administration building.
Fellow classmate Mary Katharine Stewart, who passed away March 19 in a hiking accident, was awarded her Spanish degree posthumously.
Senior Kevin Moore—a religion major from Lexington—gave the student address.
Class of 2016 honors
Thirty-four percent of the graduating seniors are receiving program honors, and 32 percent are receiving Latin honors for a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5.
Forty-seven percent of the graduates studied abroad during their careers—either for a full term, a summer or during Transylvania’s four-week May term.
Two seniors received Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships, one to teach in Macedonia and one in the Slovak Republic.
Three of the 24 national Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society graduate fellowships were awarded to Transylvania seniors.
Senior Reza Haider earned the University of Kentucky’s prestigious Cralle Fellowship to the College of Medicine.
Students will pursue advanced degrees at institutions including Duke University’s Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Ph.D. program, Vanderbilt Divinity School, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and Washington and Lee School of Law.