The weekend of April 29 will include numerous graduation related activities, culminating in the 125th Goshen College commencement ceremony on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Jan Kauffman, GC’s registrar, headed this year’s commencement committee.

“I love commencement weekend because there’s a lot of energy and celebration,” she said. “Seeing the students that I’ve connected with walk across the stage, knowing some of their stories and the hard work that it took to get there, is just the best.”

Numerous graduation related activities will take place on Saturday, such as the nursing pinning ceremony. Faculty also hold receptions for their respective academic departments. 

“When I was a parent of a graduate,” Kauffman said, “it was fun to connect with the faculty that they’ve interacted with for all those years, and to have faculty tell good stories about your child is always fun.”

The baccalaureate celebration will take place that night. The celebration is an opportunity to showcase students’ musical talents, pictures, art and athletic accomplishments with a slideshow and several performances, followed by a reception hosted by Rebecca Stoltzfus, Goshen’s president, in the music center.

After a Sunday brunch, commencement will finally be held in the Recreation-Fitness Center (RFC). Felipe Hinojosa, professor of history at Texas A&M, will be the keynote speaker. Hinojosa served on the Goshen College board of directors from 2009 to 2021.

His first book, “Latino Mennonites: Civil Rights, Faith, and Evangelical Culture,” was awarded the 2015 Américo Paredes Book Award. The book is the account of Latino Mennonites in the United States, fitting in with the common goal of his works — telling the often overlooked stories of Protestant Latino voices in the civil rights movement.

Stoltzfus described Hinojosa as “a dynamic scholar, activist and leader who is a long-time friend of GC.” She continued, saying, “He brings fun energy to every room and is committed to creating excellence for students from the perspective of a Chicano who cares for everyone and sees through a justice lens.”

Tickets are required to attend commencement; they’re distributed by members of the graduating class. Those without tickets can line the sidewalk into the RFC by 2:50 p.m. for the processional.

The baccalaureate celebration and commencement ceremony will be live-streamed for those unable to attend at goshen.edu/livestream.

“It’s one of the weekends that we really put time and energy into,” Kauffman said. “I hope students feel celebrated.”