On Saturday, May 15, 9 a.m. at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, the commencement ceremony for USM’s 2004 graduates will take place. This annual event usually lasts until 12 p.m. The student commencement speaker will be Sandra Hammel Rivard, a senior social and behavioral science major.
The Cumberland County Civic Center seats over six thousand people, so there are no limits on the number of guests the graduates may invite. People should show up early to get good seats and graduates are expected to be at the Civic Center by 8 a.m. Parking is tight; the registrar’s office recommends carpooling. Spring Street Parking will be offering event parking and other lots in the area are expected to be open.
Commencement is many things to many people. To the family and friends of those graduating it is a chance to say to a loved one, ‘I knew you could do it.’ For traditional students who had gone straight to college it is a new beginning: A world that is ripe with potential waiting to be discovered, tasted, and savored.
USM President Richard Pattenaude describes commencement as “one of the most wonderful and rewarding times of the year. We see so much happiness and joy.”
For nontraditional students who have savored the world before coming to USM commencement is, according to Rivard, “a puzzle coming together which I thought would be finished, but there are still pieces missing.” These pieces are ones graudates will continue to find throughout their lives in the people and world around them.
Joseph R. Thompson can be contacted at [email protected]