The Class of ’64 paves the way
For a lot of college students – those from the Mount included – the true weight of Commencement doesn’t really hit until they’re walking across the stage in their caps and gowns.
The Mount’s 62nd annual Commencement Ceremonies in May were no different, when nearly 450 students achieved their dreams of earning a college degree. From any seat in the house, it was easy to see the students’ excitement and optimism.
Though separated by more than six decades, the Mount’s Class of 1964 must have felt that same sense of pride washing over them as they received the very first bachelor’s degrees ever conferred by the newly expanded college.
In 1964, the Mount was just beginning its journey as a four-year liberal arts college. The doors had opened to its first class of laywomen in 1960, a big departure from only awarding associate degrees to the Dominican Sisters as the college had been doing since the mid-1950s.
Even before that first graduation, things at the Mount had been rapidly evolving. For example, Aquinas Hall, the centerpiece of academic life, had just opened in 1963. Meanwhile, the college was swiftly building its reputation for intellectual achievement, spiritual growth, and a commitment to service, all guided by its Catholic and Dominican traditions.
The 32 women of the Class of 1964 were trailblazers in their own right, making possible one of the most important milestones in Mount history. After that first graduation, the pieces of the modern Mount Saint Mary College started falling into place quickly: The college would go co-ed with the first male student in 1968. (Just two years later, nearly 60 men were enrolled!) Soon more majors were offered, the adult education program was launched, and graduating classes became larger and more diverse.
Commencement, however, has remained largely the same – a joyous event for families, students, and professors alike.
