The Two Hundred and Forty Third Commencement of Purdue University First Division May 15, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Ross Ade Stadium West Lafayette, Indiana Second Division May 16, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Edward C. Elliott Hall of Music West Lafayette, Indiana Spring 2021 1 THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY A Perspective Purdue University owes a substantial debt to its medieval predecessors for its commencement ceremony and academic attire. The academic heritage that evolved during the Middle Ages provided us with a teaching institution, the university; a method of measuring academic progress, degrees; and a structure for an appropriate ceremony recognizing the student’s achieve- ment, commencement. In June 1875, Purdue University held its first commencement outdoors on the Oval, awarding the Bachelor of Science degree to a class of one. In 1903, commencement was moved indoors to the newly-completed Eliza Fowler Hall. The steady growth of the size of the graduating class necessitated moving the exercises to larger and larger facilities: the Memorial Gymnasium, the Armory, the Field House, and in 1940, to the Edward C. Elliott Hall of Music. The 241st commencement at the West Lafayette campus is being held today for graduates who qualified for their degrees at the end of the current semester. The colorful ceremony, enacted each year on campuses throughout the world, is the formal climax and recognition of the graduates’ years of study and preparation. Academic Attire Graduate candidates for degrees wear a black tassel on the left side of the square Oxford cap, or mortarboard, signifying receipt of a previous degree. At Purdue, the color of the trim on the hood identifies the areas of specialization. Doctor of Philosophy (All areas) Ph.D. Hood Color Dark Blue Areas of Specialization Master Areas of Specialization Master Hood Colors Hood Colors Management Agriculture Economics Copper Forestry Russet All others Peacock Blue All Others Maize Public Policy & Public Administration Peacock Blue Education (All Areas) Light Blue (All Areas) Engineering (All Areas) Orange Pharmacy Health and Human Sciences Pharmacy Olive Green Human Development & Family Studies Maroon Polytechnic Institute (All areas) Red Consumer Science & Retailing Drab Science (All areas) Golden Yellow Nutrition Sci Lemon Veterinary Medicine (All areas) Gray Health & Kinesiology Sage Green Health Sciences Salmon Pink Professional Hospitality & Tourism Management Drab Hood Colors Nursing Apricot Doctor of Audiology Colonial Blue Psychological Sciences Navy Doctor of Nursing Practice Apricot Speech, Language Hearing Science Silver Doctor of Pharmacy Olive Green Doctor of Technology Red Liberal Arts Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Gray Communication, Political Science, Sociology, and Anthropology Citron Creative Arts Brown English, Lang & Cultures, History White Undergraduate and professional candidates for degrees wear a tassel on the right side of the square Oxford cap, or mortarboard. At Purdue, the color of the tassel identifies the college or school of the University from which they are to receive their degree. The tassel colors are as follows: Agriculture Maize Liberal Arts White Forestry Russet Education Light Blue Management Peacock Blue Engineering Orange Health and Human Sciences Human Development & Family Studies Maroon Consumer Sci & Retailing Drab Pharmacy Olive Green Nutrition Sci Lemon Health & Kinesiology Sage Green Health Sciences Salmon Pink Polytechnic Institute Red Hospitality & Tour Mgmt Drab Nursing Apricot Science Golden Yellow Psychological Sciences Navy Speech, Lang Hearing Science Silver Veterinary Medicine Gray 2 THE USE OF ACADEMIC EMBLEMS The Seal Seals are common to all corporate bodies and have been used since ancient times to authenticate documents. They constituted the official signatures of emperors, bishops, and corporations. University seals evolved from those of church corporations. In Europe, the early faculties and student nations possessed seals; in the United States, all colleges and universities have had seals since Colonial days. The current Purdue Seal was officially adopted in 1969 and retains elements of earlier versions, which evolved beginning in 1890. The seal features a stylized depiction of the griffin, the mythological beast with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion. In medieval heraldry, the griffin symbolized strength. The three-part shield represents Purdue’s traditional aims: learning, discovery, and engagement. The seal combines these traditional elements with modern simplicity of design to form one of the most distinctive of university symbols. The University Mace The mace has an ancient history as a symbol of authority. Originally giant clubs made of iron and capable of breaking armor, maces were used chiefly by knights. They were also often borne by a royal bodyguard to protect the king in processions. In the course of time, by the 14th century, they assumed more ceremonial functions and lost their warlike appearance, as they began to be decorated with jewels and precious metals. In 1649, the English House of Commons obtained a mace. In 1756, a silver mace was made for the colony of South Carolina; it is still in use in the state capital at Columbia. In the United States House of Representatives, the mace is placed to the right of the speaker. As a symbol of order and authority, a mace is carried before the president and other dignitaries in the platform party in commencement processions. As a reflection of the modern vision of a truly American university, the design of the Purdue Mace embraces sweeping thrusts and counterthrusts to create a vital energy within an otherwise clean, linear aesthetic. The University seal is located in the center of the mace-head; bounding it are two sweeping silver wings. The Presidential Closely allied with maces and seals as symbols of authority are the collars of office worn by many officials, including chancellors and presidents of Medallion universities. Collars usually include a medallion inscribed with the seal of the institution and are worn over the academic gown on public occasions, particularly at commencements. Located in the center of Purdue’s Presidential Medallion is the three-part “heraldic shield” and griffin, the symbol which has existed throughout Purdue’s long history of University seals. The medallion, as well as the mace, was handcrafted from sterling silver, ebony, and gold, using the centuries-old techniques of swedging, forging, hollow-forming, and silver soldering. The Banners The banners, sometimes known as standards or gonfalons (a flag that hangs from a crosspiece or frame), originated in the medieval republics of Italy as an ensign of state or office. They have been adopted in many universities around the world as school or institutional insignias. The fourteen banners displayed represent the University, the Graduate School, and the twelve undergraduate colleges or schools at the West Lafayette campus. The colors of the University, old gold and black, are joined together in a pattern common to all the banners. The bands are the same colors as the tassels worn on the mortarboard of the college’s or school’s graduates. Each college or school is represented on its banner by a symbol and two colored bands indicating its major academic discipline. The Teaching Medallion The medallion identifies members of the Purdue University Teaching Academy, a dedicated and dynamic network of scholar-teachers committed to the continual improvement of teaching and learning at Purdue University. Under the auspices of the Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Teaching Academy works with the academic schools, the Center for Instructional Excellence, and others to enrich the educational experiences of the entire Purdue University community. The mission of the Teaching Academy is to provide leadership and serve as a catalyst to enhance and strengthen the quality of undergraduate, graduate, and outreach teaching and learning. 3 ORDER OF EXERCISES *THE NATIONAL ANTHEM (The audience is invited to sing.) The Star Spangled Banner Isabella R. Matthews, Purduettes College of Liberal Arts *INVOCATION First Division: Pastor Rob Schrumpf, Purdue Christian Campus House Second Division: Pastor Rob Schrumpf, Purdue Christian Campus House +MEDIA PRESENTATION WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS First Division Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. The President of the University Second Division Jay T. Akridge Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Diversity ADDRESS TO THE CANDIDATES First Division The President of the University Second Division Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Diversity THE CONFERRING OF THE HONORARY DEGREES The President of the University +THE CONFERRING OF THE DEGREES First Division The President of the University The conferral of master degrees The conferral of professional degrees Recognition of distinguished professional and undergraduate degrees The conferral of baccalaureate and associate degrees Second Division Provost and Executive Vice President The awarding of diplomas for advanced degrees for Academic Affairs and Diversity RECOGNITION OF SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS *BENEDICTION First Division: Pastor Rob Schrumpf Second Division: Pastor Rob Schrumpf (Platform Party departs and the Candidates Recess The program is concluded.) +The audience seated * The audience standing 4 UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION Board Of Trustees Michael R. Berghoff, Chairman, Indianapolis, Indiana Vanessa J. Castagna, Naples, Florida Gary J. Lehman, Vice