Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Senior members of the Hobart rowing team gather for a group photo with their paddles.

You are graduating into a worldwide force of over 18,000 alumni and alumnae that you will be discovering for the rest of your lives, almost no matter where you live or travel, says Board Chair Maureen Collins Zupan ’72, P’09, L.H.D.’16 in the keynote address at Baccalaureate.

Baccalaureate 2016 is held at Trinity Church.

President Mark D. Gearan congratulates Chatham Anastasi ’16, the recipient of the Robert M. Finlayson, Jr. Class of 1972 Endowed Scholarship, on graduating magna cum laude in English and theatre. More than 150 students received Latin praise during the annual Academic Achievement Ceremony on Saturday.

Trustee Emeritus L. Thomas Melly ’52, L.H.D. ’02 and Trustee Katherine D. Elliott ’66, L.H.D. ’08 process during Baccalaureate.

Bree Von Bradsky ’16, Danielle Mueller ’16, Ingrid Dehler-Seter ’16 and Jessica Bishop’16 participated in a decades-old custom, touching a tree on the Hill for good luck. The tradition was recalled by 101-year-old Alta Boyer '36 as part of her well-wishes to the graduating Herons.

Mimi Scott ’16 participates in the traditional tree planting at the William Smith Senior Welcome and Toast.

Professor of Music Robert Cowles leads the Colleges' Choir during the Baccalaureate ceremony held at Trinity Church.

At the ceremony, seniors receive a bracelet and the senior pine tree charm. The pine tree is in recognition of the College’s nurseryman founder, William Smith.

Tim Griffin '16 and Walker Ward '16 sing the Hobart alma mater Hip Hobart.

Jeff Rizza '16, a member of the Druid Honor Society and winner of the annual Pitch Contest, leads the Statesmen down to the Bozzuto Boathouse for the Hobart Launch.

Assistant Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations Jared Weeden '91 welcomes the graduating class to the Hobart Launch. The members of the Hobart Class of 2016 were each presented with replicas of the paddle used by the Seneca warrior Agayentah.

President Mark D. Gearan speaks to the graduating Classes of 2016 during rehearsal for Commencement.

Trustee Edward R. Cooper ’86, P’16, P’19 and Robin Savits Cooper '87, P'16, P'19 address attendees of Friday’s Commencement rehearsal.

Tim Griffin '16 and Walker Ward '16 sing the Hobart alma mater Hip Hobart.

Oneal Perez '16 dips his oar in Seneca Lake, a celebrated tradition of Hobart's heritage expressing the promise of a reciprocal lifelong bond between graduates and their alma mater.