2011

More than 1,600 graduates and their families gathered on Hearn Plaza under cloudy skies for the 2011 Commencement Ceremony. In her speech, “For Humanity,” PepsiCo CEO Indra K. Nooyi urged graduates to keep their curiosity and stay positive. Read more »

Read the full text of Nooyi’s address »

Photo galleries:

Students | Family & friends | Ceremony | Faculty and staff | Audio slideshow

Hatch addresses graduates

President Nathan O. Hatch, in his remarks to the Class of 2011, said he hoped their Wake Forest education had whetted their appetite for a life of learning. “The very reason a University exists — its heart and soul — is to inspire passion to learn, explore, discover, understand.” Read more »

Meet the class of 2011

Meet 2011 Grad: Ben Comer

Meet 2011 Grad: Travis Beal

Meet 2011 Grad: Jung Hoon Kim

Meet 2011 Grad: Teddy Aronson

Meet 2011 Grad: Kristy Tayapongsak

Meet 2011 Grad: Jackie Willingham

Meet 2011 Grad: Keli Beck

Meet 2011 Grad: Jon Bougher

Meet 2011 Grad: Gregory E. Griffey

Meet 2011 Grad: Camille Collier

Meet 2011 Grad: Ae’Jay Mitchell

Meet 2011 Grad: Carey Alice Carpenter

Meet 2011 Grad: Melanie Firestone

Meet 2011 Grad: Ryan McBreen

Meet 2011 Grad: Caitlin Crawford

View all senior profiles »

Then and Now

From first-year student to graduating senior — students from religion professor Lynn Neal’s first-year seminar class look back on how they’ve changed in four years.

Senior wins Marshall Scholarship

Senior Bo-Shan Xiang, who is on a mission to build American interest in the study of philosophy, has been awarded a Marshall Scholarship. Xiang plans to study metaethics at the University of St. Andrews.

Senior receives award for community service

Senior Lisa Northrop was one of 34 college students from across North Carolina to receive the Community Impact Student Award and a volunteer recognition certificate of appreciation from Governor Beverly Perdue.

Science and social entrepreneurship

For as long as he can remember, senior biology major William Oelsner wanted to be a physician. Then he discovered that by joining science know-how and business savvy, he could improve lives more than one patient at a time.

Senior orations

“Building Bridges at Home and Abroad” (Catherine “Cate” Berenato)
“Application for the Class of 2011″ (Ashley Gedraitis)
“To Understand the World …” (Ava Petrash)

See also: Senior video

A natural leader

Student government president Natalie Halpern, a senior from Marietta, Ga., has a track record of leading people and getting projects accomplished in her time at Wake Forest.

Ten seniors named Wake Forest Fellows

Ten seniors have been named Wake Forest Fellows and will work in the President’s Office, Information Systems, University Advancement and in other offices for the next year.

Friendship fosters success

Sometimes children find that making friends is hard. They need someone to help break the ice. Senior Jung Hoon Kim does this for his “little brother” through Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Whirling and twirling

Though her parents encouraged her to try a wide variety of sports and activities, dance was “the only thing that stuck,” says Ryann DuRant, a senior communication major and Presidential Scholar in Dance.

More stories about seniors:

• Research looks at how antibiotics work (Allison Faig)
• Two week in Vietnam (Lia Flur)
• Campaign to reduce bottled water usage (Frannie Speer)
• Global Brigades in Honduras (Kate Masetta)
• Students help children in Honduras (Madhura Manjunath)
• Archaeological adventure (Hope Scofield)
• Costumes bring ‘Imaginary Cuckold’ to life (Caroline Dignes)
• Students research one way to protect the rainforest (Cate Berenato, Katherine Sinacore)
• Students help other students save (Ben Comer)

PROGRAMS

Download Commencement programs PDF

• Graduation Exercises
• Baccalaureate Service
• Honors and Awards Ceremony
• Graduate School Hooding
• Law School Hooding
• Physician Assistant Hooding
• Physician Assistant Diploma
• Business Schools Hooding
• Divinity School Hooding
• School of Medicine Hooding
• School of Medicine Banquet
• School of Medicine Commencement

Gallery: Commencement 2011