Commencement marks a new beginning for all Dartmouth College seniors, another leaf turned over, a new chapter beginning. For some -- 21 seniors to be exact -- commencement will also mark the beginning of their time as a Senior Executive Committee member. Starting after Senior Week, the Senior Executive Committee replaces the senior Class Council as the reigning body of the 2005 class. It is the job of the Senior Executive Committee to choose the speakers for Class Day and to select the class marshals who will lead the class of 2005 down the aisles for the commencement ceremony.
One of the speakers that the SEC chooses is the annual faculty speaker. Members of the Class of 2005 submitted their nominations, and the SEC made the final decision on who will speak during the morning of Class Day. This year's faculty speaker is Professor Craig Wilder of the History Department.
The SEC also chooses the Class Orator, the graduating senior who delivers a short speech either reflecting on the past four years or looking to the future. Graig Peterson '05 is this year's class orator. The SEC selected Peterson from over 50 nominations.
"We were looking for someone who could relate to the people in the class, who we thought could put together a thoughtful, welldone speech," Tim Millikin '05, president of the SEC, said.
The four class historians, Tommy Dickie '05, Andrew Dahl '05, Erin Osborn '05, and Archie Price '05, will deliver a performance that recounts the Class of 2005's time at Dartmouth. The performance is usually a "light-hearted skit," according to Millikin, and is different ever y year. What does the dynamic team have hiding up their sleeves for 2005?
"Well, let's just say that we recommend that everyone brings raincoats & UV-protection shades," Dickie said. Although he was slightly anxious to perfect the skit during a hectic Senior Week, Dickie is confident and eager to perform.
"I've absolutely been excited about this unique opportunity to perform and be silly in front of thousands of people," he said.
The SEC also selects nine class marshals, members of the graduating class who lead the class to the commencement ceremony. The senior class president, this year Sabrina Singh '05, is always head marshal. The other eight marshals are, according to Millikin, selected to be "a good cross section, a good representation" of the class, with the hopes that most students can relate to at least one marshal.
In addition to Singh, this year's class marshals are Ralph Davies '05, Julia Hildreth '05, Merrick Johnston '05, Clayton Smith '05, Ben Grinnell '05, Daniel Hui '05, Stella Lee '05, and Nicole Valco '05.
"I love this school and getting to lead my class out to graduation will surely be a lifelong memory," Grinnell said.
