By: Sydney KcKinnon

While it might be difficult to believe, the time has come for the class of 2024 to graduate from West Virginia Wesleyan!

The commencement ceremony will take place at 10:00 a.m. on May 11th, 2024. This year, the ceremony will be held in the Wesley Chapel as opposed to the gymnasium. It is said that the change in location is occurring to create a special day for the class that was not able to have an in-person high school graduation because of the pandemic.

Holding the ceremony in the Wesley Chapel permits each senior to receive eight tickets for family and friends to attend, which means students can have even more support for their achievements.

By now, all seniors have picked up their caps and gowns and are anxiously waiting for graduation day! These graduates have conquered so much during the past four years: online classes, mask mandates, sporting events with no audience, and even a full semester at home. It is safe to say that the 2024 graduates are determined and persistent.  

While this milestone can bring a lot of emotions, the biggest one is excitement. Current senior Makenzie Yates stated, “I am excited to graduate, have my bachelor’s degree, and be one step closer to finishing school. It shows all the dedication and hard work I have put into my physics degree.” 

Each senior has brought so much to WVWC and will now be pursuing their own journeys. Yates added, “I can’t wait to apply my degree to my master’s program in industrial engineering in the fall! Graduate school and my upcoming research are all going to be exciting journeys.” 

The next steps can be scary and unfamiliar, but Wesleyan graduates have created a family these past four years to rely on and stay in touch with. Seniors have developed life-long friendships and mentors who will always be there to support them. Graduating from Wesleyan leaves students with so much more than a piece of paper. 

The 2024 graduates will be doing amazing things and going their separate ways, but Wesleyan will always hold a special place in our hearts and will always be our home among the hills.

For those unable to attend in person, the college will be live-streaming both the Baccalaureate and Commencement events. 

The livestream can be accessed at: https://www.wvwc.edu/livestream-events/ , ensuring that family members and friends from afar can share in the celebration of this significant milestone.

Congratulations to the class of 2024!