The Roanoke College Class of 2024 is set to walk across the stage for commencement on Saturday, May 4. Nearly 400 graduates will celebrate earning their bachelor’s degrees and another 10 will become the first graduating class of Roanoke College’s new MBA program.
The graduation ceremonies will formally begin at 4 p.m. Friday, May 3, with Baccalaureate, an annual worship service held in the Cregger Center. The Rev. Christopher Bowen, Roanoke College’s Timothy L. Pickle Dean of the Chapel, will preside and offer a message for students. All graduates, family and guests are welcome to attend. No tickets are required.
Commencement is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, May 4, on the John R. Turbyfill Quadrangle. Commencement exercises are open to all family and guests. No tickets are required.
The Class of 2024 hails from 27 states and 12 countries. This year’s ceremonies will also celebrate the first cohort of students to graduate from a 4+1 MBA program unveiled in 2023. The intensive program empowers Maroons to earn their master’s in business administration on an accelerated one-year track.
During commencement, Roanoke College will present an honorary degree to Virginia Western Community College President Robert Sandel in gratitude for his immense contributions to education across the region.
Sandel has been a powerful voice for student success and access to higher learning during his 22 years of leadership at Virginia Western. He’s also been a close partner of Roanoke College, most recently in the Rapid Maroons initiative announced last fall to create a direct path for Virginia Western students who want to transfer into Roanoke College and earn their bachelor’s degree.
At Virginia Western, Sandel’s forward-thinking vision ushered in an era of unprecedented growth, including the creation of the cutting-edge Fralin Center for Science and Health Professions, a new Student Life Center, and a more than $30 million STEM Building that opened in 2019. He also worked with the Virginia Western Educational Foundation to spearhead the launch of the nationally recognized Community College Access Program that helps local students in need with tuition expenses.
Roanoke College described Sandel as a tireless advocate for education and its power to transform lives, communities and economies for the better. His work has been honored with a Roanoke City Citizen of the Year Award and a Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council Ruby Award.
Commencement will be held outdoors on the quad, rain or shine. The ceremony will be livestreamed via Roanoke College’s YouTube channel. In the case of severe weather, the event may be moved to the Salem Civic Center, located at 1001 Roanoke Blvd. If that is necessary, an announcement will be made on the morning of Saturday, May 4, via Maroon Alert, social media and Roanoke College’s website.
Graduates will complete their final exams on April 30 and enjoy Senior Week festivities afterward. More details about Commencement and a direct link to the ceremony’s livestream can be found at roanoke.edu/commencement.
-The Salem Times-Register
