Photo Essay | Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Professor John Rassias, who has been part of the faculty since 1965, led the Commencement procession with the Class of 1959.

Senior class president Ann Rittgers ’09 served as class marshall and led her classmates up Wheelock Street and to the Green.

Umbrellas, ponchos and rain jackets helped the crowd weather rain at the beginning of the ceremony.

For the first time this year, a JumboTron was set up on the Green for Commencement.

College President James Wright, who will step down from his position on July 1, shook approximately 1703 hands during Sunday’s ceremony. He first congratulated 448 masters degree recipients.

Members of the Class of 2009 turned over the tassels of their caps after shaking the hand of President Wright. Students received their degrees after the ceremony in Robinson Hall due to the rain.

Members of the Class of 2009 linked arms and sang the College’s Alma Mater at the close of the ceremony.

The ceremony ended with a celebratory hat toss.