VCU news

By Elinor Frisa

The wait is almost over for thousands of VCU students and their families: Commencement is this weekend. It’s a milestone moment for the graduates, whose college experience was framed by countless hours of hard work, all-nighters and exams – in addition to exploring Richmond, making connections and forming lasting friendships.

Here’s a look at some numbers that can be counted when it comes to commencement.

4,717

… students are graduating this weekend, some with multiple degrees. More than 3,000 are earning bachelor’s degrees, 934 are earning master’s, 380 are earning first-professional degrees (e.g., a Doctor of Medicine), and 296 will be newly minted Ph.D.s. The students come from all over the U.S. but also beyond, with international grads representing 40 countries. Roughly 30% of the students crossing the finish line this month are underrepresented minorities. Read more about some of VCU’s outstanding new graduates.

19 and 70

… are the ages of the youngest graduate (earning a bachelor’s) and the oldest (earning a master’s).

1

… former Miss America is graduating Saturday, as Camille Schrier earns her Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Schrier enrolled in the VCU School of Pharmacy in 2018 and took two years off — 2019 through 2021 — to fulfill her duties, first as Miss Virginia and then as Miss America 2020. Due to the unusual circumstances caused by the pandemic, the Miss America organization extended Schrier’s reign and granted her an exception to continue her education while performing her official duties. An advocate for encouraging young girls to pursue careers in STEM, Schrier made headlines for performing a scientific demonstration on stage during the talent segment of the competition, and she later crafted her Miss America social initiative — called “Mind Your Meds: Drug Safety” — to tie in with her pharmacy studies. Read more about her unconventional journey.

41

… commencement ceremonies will be held, in addition to the universitywide event, to celebrate students based on their college, school, department and other affiliations. The ceremonies take place at venues all over campus and Richmond, including the Siegel Center, the Altria Theater, the Virginia War Memorial and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, giving students and their families multiple chances to celebrate. More details about those events are available at commencement.vcu.edu.

2

… students are receiving awards at the main ceremony this year: Xavier Lewis and Niyomi Shah. Every year, the VCU Board of Visitors honors undergraduates who model “outstanding academic achievement, leadership and service to the university and the community at large.” Lewis, a member of the Honors College and a first-generation student, is committed to supporting and empowering underprivileged communities, and he has served as event coordinator for the Developing Men of Color student organization and will be its president next year. He volunteers as a translator and helps coach youth basketball. Shah is also an Honors College student with a passion for helping underserved communities. She has taken on leadership roles in several student organizations focused on volunteering and health, including the VCU Rotaract Club, MedLife at VCU and Collective Corazo´n. She tutors students at Open High School and has served as an organic chemistry teaching assistant at VCU and an undergraduate researcher at a VCU School of Medicine lab.

5

… top undergraduate majors for this month’s graduates are psychology; biology; business; health, physical education and exercise science; and computer science.

4,000

… balloons of various sizes will drop from the ceiling of the Greater Richmond Convention Center at the end of the universitywide ceremony on Saturday. The black and gold balloons are collected in four giant nets and take hours to blow up the day before the event.

467

… linear feet of gold carpet is delivered to the Greater Richmond Convention Center the day before the universitywide ceremony and unrolled by the vendor’s crew. Students walk down the stately carpet in the Exhibit Hall during the procession as they enter as students and leave as alums.

35

… volunteers help at the universitywide ceremony. Whether setting up the more than 10,000 chairs, helping line up graduates in an orderly fashion or carrying the ceremonial mace at the front of the procession, they help make the celebration run smoothly.

1974

… is the year that the newest group of VCU Golden Alumni graduated. More than 10 of those Class of 1974 alums will return to their alma mater 50 years later to attend Saturday’s ceremony, sitting in a designated section on the main floor at the convention center.

438

… graduates aren’t new to the experience. These students are already VCU alums and returned to earn additional degrees and certificates. Nearly 200 of them are picking up their third (or more) credentials from VCU.

Roughly 30

… percent of undergraduates earning their degrees are first-generation college students, making this day particularly special for their families, friends and support networks.

Hats off to them and all of VCU’s unstoppable graduates!

Editor's note: Data accurate as of May 7, 2024. Photos by VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications unless otherwise noted.