Class of 2024

Sterling College is pleased to announce the date and time for the Class of 2024 Commencement Ceremony.

Saturday, May 18th, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. EST
Houston House Garden
Rain Location: TBD

commencement

Schedule of Events

Thursday, May 16, 2024

4:30pm Reception & Senior Dinner, Location TBD (graduates)               

Friday, May 17, 2024 

10:00am Graduation Rehearsal, Meet at Farm Road (Mandatory for graduates & faculty) 

4:30-5:30pm Wine & Cheese Reception, Location TBD (families and graduates)

5:30pm Senior Family Dinner, Dunbar Dining Hall (graduates, families, faculty & staff)

6:30-8:30 pm Ice Cream Social, Dunbar Dining Hall                                                

Saturday,  May 18, 2024

9:00am – 11:00am Brunch, Dunbar Dining Hall          

12:30pm Graduates and Faculty Gather, Farm Road (All class photo) 

1:00pm Commencement Ceremony, Houston House Garden   

2:15pm Alumnx Welcome Reception, Shelton-Flynn Garden

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Noon Residences Close

Congratulations to our Graduates!

Commencement Speaker

Reverend Doctor Wayne Meisel

Reverend Doctor Wayne Meisel


Dear Community:

I am pleased to announce that Reverend Doctor Wayne Meisel has accepted our invitation to deliver Sterling College's 25th Commencement Address on May 18, 2024. Members of this year's graduating class identified several themes important to them and recommended Reverend Meisel.

Wayne Meisel stands out as a visionary self-described “community artist” who has led a life marked by innovation, community service, and self-created opportunities. A son of a Presbyterian minister, Meisel grew up in Princeton, NJ, and, despite a lifelong struggle with dyslexia, graduated from the Lawrenceville School and was named a John Harvard Scholar for the highest academic achievement at Harvard University. Since his sophomore year in college, Meisel has uniquely crafted each job he has ever had. His entrepreneurial spirit first manifested when he sold painter caps as a junior at age 19 to finance his college education. While at Harvard, Meisel attended a regional gathering of campus community service coordinators and saw that there was a need for a more formal and more focused national effort leading eventually to the establishment of a campus-wide service program post-graduation.

“... I wanted to visit a lot of campuses, but I didn’t have a car, so I got some friends to drive me to Colby College in Maine, and from there, I hiked south for several months, stopping at every college along the way.” Meisel's 1,500-mile journey in the Winter of 1984 took him from Maine to Washington, DC, visiting 65 colleges along the way to inspire a resurgence in student activism.

On his 30th birthday, Meisel accepted an invitation to establish and lead the Bonner Foundation. He guided the organization for over two decades. Under his leadership, the foundation launched the Bonner Scholars Program, among other anti-poverty initiatives.

From 1991 to 1993, as a member of the Presidential Commission on National and Community Service under President George H.W. Bush, Mr. Meisel was a prime architect of AmeriCorps, a significant component of the Federal national community service program. Time Magazine described him as a prime architect of AmeriCorps, the national service program that supports over 75,000 volunteers each year.

"I'm a preacher's kid, a dyslexic, a mama's boy, and a dad. Those are probably the four most defining pieces of Wayne Meisel. Being a preacher's kid, I was no stranger to the concept of mandatory community service."

Meisel's commitment to service led him to the Cousins Foundation in Atlanta, where he applied his experience from the national service and service learning movements to faith communities and theological education. This work culminated in establishing the Center for Faith and Service at McCormick Seminary.

He became a contributing writer at the Huffington Post, publishing over seventy articles. His life took a challenging turn in 2017 when he was diagnosed with a cholangiocarcinoma, marking his third battle with cancer. Despite this, Meisel's spirit remained undeterred, leading him to embrace every aspect of community life with vigor and dedication.

Throughout his career, Meisel has focused on building movements over empires, prioritizing the recognition of unsung heroes over personal acclaim. His philosophy reflects a commitment to serving others, “...all the prestigious institutions I've been a part of, it is my summer camp that has meant the most to me. The Camp Dudley motto is, “ the other fellow first.” And that is just how I have sought to live my life.” Wayne Meisel's life narrative is a testament to the power of resilience, service, and the profound impact of living for the betterment of the community and society.

You can read more about Meisel’s work and interests here. I am proud and honored that Wayne has accepted our invitation to speak at the 2024 Sterling College Commencement. I look forward to joining Wayne, your friends, and your families on May 18 to celebrate your accomplishments.

Best Regards,

Scott